Japan

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#15ELO· 2026-07-19#17FIFA· 2026-07-19

4Continental titles· last 20115Continental finals reached

Greatest games

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

W 2-1 v Spain

Date

2022-12-01

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.932

D 2-2 v Netherlands

Date

2026-06-14

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.901

L 1-2 v Brazil

Date

2026-06-29

Stage

World Cup · Round of 32

Game Score

1.798

L 1-1 v Croatia(pens 1-3)

Date

2022-12-05

Stage

World Cup · Round of 16

Game Score

1.747

W 2-1 v Colombia

Date

2018-06-19

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.657

W 2-1 v Germany

Date

2022-11-23

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.595

D 2-2 v Belgium

Date

2002-06-04

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.581

L 2-3 v Belgium

Date

2018-07-02

Stage

World Cup · Round of 16

Game Score

1.493

D 1-1 v Sweden

Date

2026-06-25

Stage

World Cup · Group Stage

Game Score

1.449

L 0-1 v Turkey

#10

Date

2002-06-18

Stage

World Cup · Round of 16

Game Score

1.357

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

Footprint

Tournament appearances

Trophies

Major trophies

Last appearance

2027

World Cup appearances

Continental appearances

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

2006WC

Appearance

FIFA World Cup 2006

Japan

2005Inter

Appearance

FIFA Confederations Cup 2005

Japan

2004Asian

Champion

AFC Asian Cup 2004

Japan

2003Inter

Appearance

FIFA Confederations Cup 2003

Japan

2002WC

Round of 16

FIFA World Cup 2002

Japan

2001Inter

Final

FIFA Confederations Cup 2001

Japan

2000Asian

Champion

AFC Asian Cup 2000

Japan

1999Copa

Appearance

Copa América 1999

Japan

1998WC

Appearance

FIFA World Cup 1998

Japan

1996Asian

Quarterfinal

AFC Asian Cup 1996

Japan

1995Inter

Appearance

King Fahd Cup 1995

Japan

1992Asian

Champion

AFC Asian Cup 1992

Japan

1988Asian

Appearance

AFC Asian Cup 1988

Japan

1936Other

Quarterfinal

1936 Olympic Football

Japan

Year	Name	Tournament	Round reached
2026	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2026	Appearance
2024	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2024	Quarterfinal
2022	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2022	Round of 16
2019	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2019	Final
2019	Japan	CopaCopa América 2019	Appearance
2018	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2018	Round of 16
2015	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2015	Quarterfinal
2014	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2014	Appearance
2013	Japan	InterFIFA Confederations Cup 2013	Appearance
2011	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2011	Champion
2010	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2010	Round of 16
2007	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2007	Semifinal
2006	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2006	Appearance
2005	Japan	InterFIFA Confederations Cup 2005	Appearance
2004	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2004	Champion
2003	Japan	InterFIFA Confederations Cup 2003	Appearance
2002	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 2002	Round of 16
2001	Japan	InterFIFA Confederations Cup 2001	Final
2000	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 2000	Champion
1999	Japan	CopaCopa América 1999	Appearance
1998	Japan	WCFIFA World Cup 1998	Appearance
1996	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 1996	Quarterfinal
1995	Japan	InterKing Fahd Cup 1995	Appearance
1992	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 1992	Champion
1988	Japan	AsianAFC Asian Cup 1988	Appearance
1936	Japan	Other1936 Olympic Football	Quarterfinal

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

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