Member Associations - JAPAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (JFA)

JFA

Key Personnel - JFA

Honour - JFA

Grassroots

DOWNLOADS - JFA

LATEST NEWS - JFA

Kamada: Mindsets must change for Japan to be world champions

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Kamada: Mindsets must change for Japan to be world champions

Houston: Japan will never win the FIFA World Cup unless football becomes the country's number one sport, midfielder Daichi Kamada warned after their heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Brazil on Monday.

Asia's best side arrived in North America with ambitions of winning the tournament, and they were touted as outside favourites to go far.

 

But they were knocked out in the last 32 and have now failed to win a FIFA World Cup knockout game in five attempts.

Disappointed but Japan's Moriyasu continues to believe

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Disappointed but Japan's Moriyasu continues to believe

Houston: Head coach Hajime Moriyasu said Japan have proved they have what it takes to one day win the FIFA World Cup following a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Brazil on Monday.

Japan lost in the last 32 after giving up a 1-0 half-time lead, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring an injury-time winner in Houston.

Some of the Japan players were in tears at the end as the East Asian side's wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout stage win continued.

R32: Brazil 2-1 Japan

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

R32: Brazil 2-1 Japan

Houston: Japan's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion on Monday as Brazil struck late to seal a 2-1 win in their Round of 32 tie.

Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead in the 29th minute with Casemiro heading home the equaliser in the 56th.

Brazil kept pushing and were rewarded with the winning goal through Gabriel Martinelli deep into added time as Japan's dream came to an end. The five-time champions will face either Cote d'Ivoire or Norway in in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

Preview - R32: Brazil v Japan

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Preview - R32: Brazil v Japan

Houston: Japan will be determined to extend their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign when they face five-time champions Brazil in their Round of 32 tie at Houston Stadium on Monday.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side advanced from Group F with an unbeaten record, finishing second after a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia and a 1-1 stalemate with Sweden to set up a thrilling knockout-stage meeting with the South Americans.

The Samurai Blue - seeking to advance beyond the Round of 16 for the first time - will head into the tie with confidence, having defeated Brazil when the sides met in a friendly last October. It was Japan’s first win in 14 meetings with the giants. 

Japan's progress paying off, says Troussier

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Japan's progress paying off, says Troussier

Tokyo: Japan believe they can shock Brazil in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 meeting, and former coach Philippe Troussier thinks it would be a fitting reward for their progress as a football nation.

Frenchman Troussier led Japan when they co-hosted the FIFA World Cup with Korea Republic in 2002 and took them to the last 16 in only their second tournament appearance.

Japan have not missed a FIFA World Cup since, and they have openly talked about winning this year's competition in North America, where they face Brazil in Houston on Monday.

Not even a showdown with the five-time champions can shake Japan's current confidence, and Troussier believes it is fully justified.

Knockout Stage cast finalised

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Knockout Stage cast finalised

Los Angeles: Australia and Japan will carry Asia's hopes in the knockout stage as the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage concluded on Saturday.

There was heartbreak for Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic as both missed out after finishing third in their respective groups.

AFC President hails dynamic duo, urges focus on long-term growth

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

AFC President hails dynamic duo, urges focus on long-term growth

Kuala Lumpur: The President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, has extended his warmest congratulations to Asia’s standout duo—Japan and Australia—following their qualification for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

By navigating through the Group Stage of the newly expanded 48-team format, the pair’s advancement ensures that the AFC equalled its historical best of two teams reaching the knockout rounds on foreign soil, matching the milestone originally set at South Africa 2010.

Japan's Moriyasu looking forward to Brazil challenge

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Japan's Moriyasu looking forward to Brazil challenge

Arlington: Japan will head into their FIFA World Cup 2026 clash against Brazil with confidence, head coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Thursday.

The Japanese tactician said he was relishing the chance of locking horns with the five-time world champions, with the sides to meet in the Round of 32 on Monday.

The last meeting between the sides - an international friendly last October - ended 3-2 in favour of Japan which halted a run of 13 consecutive matches without victory for the East Asian side against the South American giants.

Group F: Japan 1-1 Sweden

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Group F: Japan 1-1 Sweden

Arlington: Japan will face Brazil in a FIFA World Cup 2026 last-32 clash after drawing 1-1 with Sweden on Thursday to finish runners-up behind the Netherlands in Group F.

In a game in front of 70,000 in Texas that sprang into life in the second half, Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead soon after the break but Anthony Elanga levelled minutes later.

Japan, fancied as dark horses to go far in North America, were hanging on by the end as Alexander Isak and Elanga both went close in injury time.

Preview - Group F: Japan v Sweden

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Preview - Group F: Japan v Sweden

Arlington: Hajime Moriyasu has set his sights on another three points when his Japan team take on Sweden in their final Group F match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with the Samurai Blue boss eyeing top spot in the standings ahead of the knockout rounds.

The Japanese handed Tunisia a 4-0 defeat on Saturday having started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands to sit in a strong position to claim pole position and a more favourable draw in the next phase of the competition.

Japan are level on points and goal difference with the Dutch but would need to defeat the Swedes at Dallas Stadium by more than Ronald Koeman's side win over the Tunisians if they are to have any hope of climbing to the summit.    

Japan's Ueda ready to fire against Sweden

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Japan's Ueda ready to fire against Sweden

Monterrey: Ayase Ueda warned Sweden his confidence was sky-high after the red-hot striker scored a classy FIFA World Cup brace to put Japan on the cusp of the knockout rounds.

Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0 on Saturday to join the Netherlands at the top of Group F and all but seal their place in the last 32 with a game to spare.

That game is against Sweden, who sit third after being beaten 5-1 by the Dutch in Houston.

Group F: Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Sun, 21 Jun, 2026

Group F: Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Guadalupe: Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the FIFA World Cup with a 4-0 defeat of Tunisia on Saturday to close in on a place in the last 32.

Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as Japan - who registered the biggest win ever on the global stage by an Asian side - joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.

Tunisia, who were beaten 5-1 by Sweden in their first game of the tournament, can no longer hope for a place in the knockout rounds.