FOOTBALL IN JAPAN · START HERE
From a local ground to J1 — and from Japan into Asia
Japanese football (soccer): J.League clubs, fixtures, results and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Use the four reviewed guides below to understand which competition you are looking at before opening a club or result.
READ IN THIS ORDER
The four-part field guide
How far below J1 is your league? Japan's football pyramid explained
J1, J2, J3 and the JFL form only the top of a much larger system. Regional, prefectural and district leagues continue below them — but not in exactly the same way everywhere.
Read the guide →Why can a university team play a J1 club? Japan's Emperor's Cup explained
The Emperor's Cup is Japan's national knockout championship. Its route begins in all 47 prefectures, then brings professional, university and community teams into one bracket.
Read the guide →Is the Levain Cup the same as the Emperor's Cup? Japan's league cup explained
No. The Levain Cup is the J.League's cup for all 60 J1, J2 and J3 clubs. Its early one-match ties lead to an eight-club prime round and a neutral-site final.
Read the guide →What are ACL Elite and ACL Two? Asia's club competitions from a J.League view
A J.League club can leave its domestic schedule to face opponents across Asia. ACL Elite is the top tier; ACL Two is the second tier, with different league and group-stage formats.
Read the guide →JAPANESE PLAYERS ABROAD
Trace a player across overseas leagues
See which season and league we have verified for Japanese players, with the official evidence alongside each entry. Coverage is still growing.
Explore the season-by-season record →Find your team
Browse the directory to find the club or national team you follow.
All clubs →FIFA World Cup
Tournament overview and all-time champions →UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT