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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…

FC TOKYO provisionally moved to the top of the East table in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 14 got underway on Saturday, thanks to a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale.Kein Sato opened the scoring with a bouncing effort four minutes before half-time at Ajinomoto Stadium, before Leon Nozawa wrapped up the victory when he …

There were plenty of surprise results in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Wednesday, as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 13 was played in full.Tokyo Verdy delivered the biggest shock of the day, as they came from behind to deal East leaders Kashima Antlers their first regulation defeat of the season.Kimito Nono gave Kashima the lead in the 19th minute…

FC Machida Zelvia suffered an agonising defeat in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Japan time), going down 1-0 to reigning champions Al Ahli Saudi FC after extra time.Al Ahli had home advantage and were the first to threaten in the 13th minute at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, but Kosei Tani made a s…

Nagoya Grampus, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Kawasaki Frontale were the big winners as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 12 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE concluded on Saturday, as each strengthened their positions near the top of their respective tables.Nagoya climbed to second place in the West rankings, courtesy of a 2-0 win away to Shimizu S-Pulse.Yu…

REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 12 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE got underway on Friday night, with the top two sides in the East table both picking up wins as FC TOKYO defeated Mito Hollyhock 5-2 and leaders Kashima Antlers edged a hard-fought battle 1-0 against Kashiwa Reysol.It was Mito who opened the scoring in the 16th minute at Ajinomoto Sta…

Avispa Fukuoka pulled off an impressive comeback to beat Gamba Osaka 2-1 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Wednesday, as the sides played their rearranged fixture from REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 17.The game was originally scheduled for mid-May, but was moved forward on account of G-Osaka progressing to the final of the AFC Champions League Two…