Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
With Al Jazira through to the semi-finals of this year's FIFA Club World Cup, join the-AFC.com as we recall the superb displays that propelled Japan's Kashima Antlers to the competition's final just twelve months ago.
Although Asian clubs have participated in every FIFA Club World Cup since the inaugural event in 2000, it took until 2016 for a club from the world's biggest continent to reach the final when Japan's Kashima Antlers shocked world audiences with their historic effort.
In many ways, Kashima could have been considered a rather unlucky team not so long ago. Despite winning a hat-trick of league titles from 2007 to 2009, the J-League's most successful side were unable to play in the FIFA Club World Cup as the host country's representative.
In 2007 and 2008, they were undone by the Asian title triumphs of fellow Japanese sides Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka while in 2009, the tournament moved to the United Arab Emirates.
Therefore, Kashima's appearance at the 2016 edition of the continental event marked the end of a long wait for the Antlers fans. Little did they know that their team would make up for lost time in style.
2016 FIFA Club World Cup Flashback: When Kashima shocked the world