Supachok Sarachat and Thailand reached the knockout stages of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, marking the second consecutive continental championship in which the War Elephants reached the final 16.Thailand made it through the group stage unbeaten, beating Kyrgyzstan, 2-0, in the opener before a pair of scoreless draws sent them through. Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo …

Tokyo Verdy are J.League royalty, having won the first two league titles, but they’ve been in a long lull and spent the last 15 seasons in the second division. Now, they are back and intent on continuing their climb back to the top.2023 reviewVerdy were very good all season, reaching the top six of the J2 table by week four and staying there the rest of the…

Júbilo Iwata have been on quite the yo-yo. They’ve either been promoted or relegated in five of the last six years, but they’re back in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in 2024 and have every intention of making it stick this time.2023 reviewIt was a wild year for Júbilo. They started in bad form and it took until the back half of May before they first moved into…

For the first time in FC Machida Zelvia history, they are playing in the top flight. How does this ambitious club look heading into their Meiji Yasuda J1 League debut?2023 reviewLast season was Zelvia’s eighth straight in the second division and with the backing of well-resourced ownership, they had their sights set on promotion. They did just that, winning…

Japan are heading to the AFC Asian Cup knockout stages after defeating Indonesia, 3-1, to wrap up Group D play.Former Kashima Antlers man Ayase Ueda was spectacular, scoring twice to lead the Samurai Blue as they secured a round of 16 matchup with the winner of Group E.Japan were dynamic from the start and took the lead mere minutes in. Ueda turned his defe…

The fixture list for the 2024 J.League season is here, with the match schedule for J1, J2, J3, and the opening stage of the J.League YBC Levain Cup released on Tuesday.The newly-expanded, 20-team Meiji Yasuda J1 League kicks off on Friday, February 23rd with a special doubleheader.Sanfrecce Hiroshima will take on Urawa Reds to open the season at the brand-n…

Japan’s AFC Asian Cup campaign hit a speed bump on Friday as the Samurai Blue lost to Iraq, 2-1, in their second group stage match.The loss leaves the Samurai Blue on three points ahead of their January 24 group stage finale against Indonesia. If they win, they will clinch second place in the group and a spot in the knockout stages.Aymen Hussein put Iraq in…

Japan kicked off their 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a full three points as they defeated Vietnam, 4-2.Takumi Minamino, the Cerezo Osaka product who has been starring in Europe for nearly a decade, led the way with two goals.Two more were added to seal the Samurai Blue victory by Keito Nakamura, the former Gamba Osaka man, and Ayase Ueda, the one-time pr…

The backbone of the Japan national team is the J.League, where all of its players come through on their way to the Samurai Blue. All 26 players on the AFC Asian Cup squad have been developed at J.League clubs and while 21 of them have moved abroad to play for some of the best teams in the world, five still suit up for domestic sides.Perhaps none of them bri…

Japan are heading to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in search of a record fifth continental crown and, as always, they’re doing it with a team of J.Leaguers past and present. All 26 players began their professional careers is the domestic league, with five of them still plying their trade for Japanese clubs.One of them is Seiya Maikuma, the Cerezo Osaka man who has…

The J.League is the developmental hub of Japanese football, as one look at the Samurai Blue’s AFC Asian Cup squad makes clear. All 26 players began their professional careers in the domestic league and five still play their club ball on home soil.One of them, who will slot right into the midfield, is Kashima Antlers’ 23-year-old star Kaishu Sano.Sano has be…

Japan is taking a team of J.League products to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, with five players still starring in the domestic league.Arguably the most unique story of the five, and of Japan’s entire team, is Taishi Brandon Nozawa.Nozawa enters the Asian Cup as Japan’s lone player to have never been capped by his country. The FC Tokyo man is an extraordinarily pro…

The Japan national team for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is entirely made up of J.League products, but five of the squad still play in the domestic top flight.One of them is Vissel Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa, who is coming off the best season of his career, having helped his club win their first-ever Meiji Yasuda J1 League title. He was excellent in goal, repe…

Yasuhito Endo has called full-time on his remarkable 26-year career. The legend announced his retirement on Tuesday, but he is staying in the J.League, joining the Gamba Osaka coaching staff with immediate effect.Endo was peerless as a midfielder, leading his teams to great heights and lifting plenty of silverware, including two J1 titles with Gamba Osaka a…

The Japan national team is full of J.League stars present and past for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, with five members of the squad currently playing in the Japanese top-flight and the other 21 developed in the domestic pyramid.But Japan are not the only country counting on current J.League players and past alums in their quest to conquer the continent.South Kore…

Hajime Moriyasu has named the Japan team for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar and, once again, it’s full of J.League players present and past.All 26 players in the Samurai Blue squad either play in the domestic league or began their professional careers in the J.League, as it continues to be the hub for Japanese football development.Two J.League players slot…

The Japan men's national team started off 2024 right, beating Thailand, 5-0, thanks to a five-goal second half at the Japan National Stadium.A crowd of over 60,000 was on hand to see the Samurai Blue’s final home match before the AFC Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar and Hajime Moriyasu’s side gave them a show.Junya Ito wore the armband and he helped put th…