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Japan took a big step towards the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday (Sunday afternoon, Japan time), as they defeated Tunisia 4-0 in Monterrey, Mexico to move second in Group F.The Samurai Blue had only won their second group-stage game once in seven previous World Cup appearances, but having drawn their opener 2-2 against the Netherlands…

The Japan Professional Football League (J.League) has confirmed the home opening fixtures (60 matches in total) for all clubs participating in the 2026/27 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE season (J1, J2, and J3), which will kick off on Friday, August 7th, 2026. These fixtures are being announced ahead of the full schedule release on Tuesday, June 16th.To mark the begi…

Japan fought back twice to earn a precious point in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands on Sunday (Monday morning, Japan time), drawing 2-2 thanks to equalising goals from Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada.The Netherlands were the more proactive of the two sides in the early exchanges at Dallas Stadium, and almost opened the scoring in j…

The J.LEAGUE ALL‑STAR DAZN CUP was held on Saturday, as six teams made up of players from all 60 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE J1, J2, and J3 clubs went head-to-head at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium).Participants were mostly chosen based on supporter votes and each regional group’s Best Eleven, with certain other factors including positional…

The J.League is pleased to announce that, for the J.LEAGUE ALL-STAR DAZN CUP, held on Saturday, June 13th, 2026, at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium), all matches from the semifinals onward will be streamed live and free of charge on the J.League Official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@JLEAGUEInternational), available to viewers around the world ex…

Vissel Kobe sealed glory in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Saturday, making sure of first place overall despite falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Kashima Antlers in their Play-Off Round 2nd Leg.A thumping 5-0 victory in last week’s first leg ensured a 5-2 aggregate victory for Kobe, with Haruki Hayashi and Kei Chinen’s goals two minutes apart m…

Japan received a terrific send-off ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday evening, as they defeated Iceland 1-0 in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2026.A late goal from Koki Ogawa was enough to seal victory for the Samurai Blue, who were cheered on throughout by 62,212 fans at Japan National Stadium.Former Gamba Osaka winger Keito Nakamura was the first to thre…

The MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Play-Off Round 1st Legs concluded on Sunday, with the final two contests both finishing as 1-1 draws.Fagiano Okayama and Urawa Reds met at JFE Harenokuni Stadium to settle who finishes 11th in the overall rankings, with Brazilians Lucao and Danilo Boza both getting their names on the scoresheet.The first chance of …

Vissel Kobe took a huge step towards being crowned MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE champions on Saturday, as they picked up a sensational 5-0 win over Kashima Antlers in their Play-Off Round 1st Leg.Yuya Osako struck a hat-trick against his former club - rifling in a free-kick in the 28th minute, adding a second five minutes into the second half, and…

REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 18 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE concluded with a glut of goals on Sunday, as Cerezo Osaka made sure of a runners-up finish in the West with a 3-2 win over Fagiano Okayama and Yokohama F･Marinos stunned Tokyo Verdy with a 6-0 thrashing.Yumeki Yokoyama gave C-Osaka the lead with a fierce strike in the eighth minute a…

More final placements were confirmed on Saturday, as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 18 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE continued.Vissel Kobe made sure of top spot in the West, defeating Avispa Fukuoka 1-0 to ensure they will be squaring off against East winners Kashima Antlers in the Play-Off Round.Matheus Thuler netted the decisive goal in the fif…

FC Machida Zelvia concluded their MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE REGIONAL ROUND duties with a 1-0 win over Urawa Reds on Friday night, as Match Week 18 got underway at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium).Visitors Urawa were the first side to threaten in the sixth minute, when Takuro Kaneko embarked upon a weaving run down the right flank before breaking…

Kashima Antlers wrapped up first place in the East table of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Sunday, claiming a 2-0 win away to JEF United Chiba as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 17 concluded.Goals two minutes before the end of each half from Ryotaro Araki and Shu Morooka leave Kashima five points clear at the summit with one game to play, at the sa…

Gamba Osaka lifted the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 trophy on Saturday (Sunday morning, Japan time), after defeating Al Nassr Club 1-0 in the final in Riyadh.Deniz Hummet was the hero for the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE side, lashing in the only goal of the game after half an hour to secure G-Osaka their first continental silverware in 18 yea…

The margins were incredibly fine in all three REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 17 games played in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Saturday, as FC TOKYO edged Urawa Reds on penalties and Tokyo Verdy and Kashiwa Reysol picked up wins on the road at Mito Hollyhock and Yokohama F･Marinos, respectively.FC TOKYO needed a win to still stand an outside chanc…

The two games made up from REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 12 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Wednesday night were both incredibly tight affairs, as Vissel Kobe defeated Kyoto Sanga F.C. 1-0 and FC Machida Zelvia beat Tokyo Verdy 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.These fixtures had been re-arranged on account of Kobe and FC Machida’s progression …

REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 16 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE concluded on Sunday, with Nagoya Grampus extending their lead at the top of the West table and the East’s leading sides Kashima Antlers and FC TOKYO both striking decisive late goals.Nagoya are now three points clear at the summit on 31 points, after they defeated Kyoto Sanga F.C. 3-…

Urawa Reds’ impressive recent resurgence continued apace in REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 16 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Saturday, as they picked up a comprehensive 4-1 win away to Mito Hollyhock.The victory was Urawa’s fourth in a row, and lifted them up to fourth place in the East table, albeit having played at least one game more than th…

There were big results in both MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE tables as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 15 took place on Wednesday, with Kashima Antlers and Nagoya Grampus ending the day atop their respective groups.Kashima extended their lead in the East to five points after claiming a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Mito Hollyhock, while Nagoya climbed i…

Kashima Antlers moved back into first place in the East table of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Sunday, edging their REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 14 fixture against FC Machida Zelvia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.Leo Ceara put Kashima in front in the 50th minute at Mercari Stadium, heading in Gaku Shibasaki’s headed assist, but Tete Yengi pu…