Japan

Asia · AFC · East Asian

Country profile →
#16Elo 1947· 2026-11-01#17FIFA· 2026-10-07
4Continental titles· last 20115Continental finals reached

Title chances

This side's chance in each title race we forecast, frozen and scored like every forecast here.

Full odds: AFC Asian Cup · every title race

Greatest games

Japan's top tournament matches by the site's Game Score (ELO).Methodology.

1
W 2-1 v Spain
2022-12-01 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.932
2
D 2-2 v Netherlands
2026-06-14 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.901
3
L 1-2 v Brazil
2026-06-29 · World Cup · Round of 32
1.798
4
L 1-1 v Croatia(pens 1-3)
2022-12-05 · World Cup · Round of 16
1.747
5
W 2-1 v Colombia
2018-06-19 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.657
6
W 2-1 v Germany
2022-11-23 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.595
7
D 2-2 v Belgium
2002-06-04 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.581
8
L 2-3 v Belgium
2018-07-02 · World Cup · Round of 16
1.493
9
D 1-1 v Sweden
2026-06-25 · World Cup · Group Stage
1.449
10
L 0-1 v Turkey
2002-06-18 · World Cup · Round of 16
1.357

Footprint

Tournament appearances
27
Trophies
4
Major trophies
4
Last appearance
2027
World Cup appearances
8
Continental appearances
13
Last final reached
2019
Last trophy
2011

Comparable programs

Methodology

Five national programs whose honors profile and historical footprint sit closest to Japan. Scored across World Cup pedigree, continental dominance (tier-adjusted), intercontinental wins, tournament span, and decade coverage. The labels describe the shared trait that drove the match.

Costa Rica
Repeat continental finalists
Honors 5.00 · distance 0.82
Côte d'Ivoire
Closest cohort across honors profile and longevity
Honors 8.25 · distance 1.22
Iran
Closest cohort across honors profile and longevity
Honors 4.50 · distance 1.25
Cameroon
Closest cohort across honors profile and longevity
Honors 12.75 · distance 1.25
New Zealand
Closest cohort across honors profile and longevity
Honors 5.10 · distance 1.27

Tournament history

Most recent first. Every senior international tournament appearance on file: World Cups, continental cups, intercontinental tournaments, and selected others. The Name column shows what the team was called at the time of that appearance (Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, etc. on rows played under a predecessor identity).

2026WC
Appearance
FIFA World Cup 2026
Japan
2024Asian
Quarterfinal
AFC Asian Cup 2024
Japan
2022WC
Round of 16
FIFA World Cup 2022
Japan
2019Asian
Final
AFC Asian Cup 2019
Japan
2019Copa
Appearance
Copa América 2019
Japan
2018WC
Round of 16
FIFA World Cup 2018
Japan
2015Asian
Quarterfinal
AFC Asian Cup 2015
Japan
2014WC
Appearance
FIFA World Cup 2014
Japan
2013Inter
Appearance
FIFA Confederations Cup 2013
Japan
2011Asian
Champion
AFC Asian Cup 2011
Japan
2010WC
Round of 16
FIFA World Cup 2010
Japan
2007Asian
Semifinal
AFC Asian Cup 2007
Japan

Tournament finals

Every senior-tournament final this team has played. Wins highlighted in gold; losses muted. Penalty shootouts shown as "PKs" alongside the regulation score.

2019 Lost
Asian Cup
Qatar
Score
1-3
Venue
Zayed Sports City Stadium, United Arab Emirates
2011 Won
Asian Cup
Australia
Score
1-0
Venue
Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar
2004 Won
Asian Cup
China
Score
3-1
Venue
Workers Stadium, China
2001 Lost
Confederations Cup
France
Score
0-1
Venue
International Stadium, Japan
2000 Won
Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia
Score
1-0
Venue
Sports City Stadium, Lebanon
1992 Won
Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia
Score
1-0
Venue
Big Arch Stadium, Japan