Japan

The Japan national football team, the Samurai Blue, is governed by the Japan Football Association (JFA) and competes in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The team plays home matches at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo and wears dark blue.

Japan has qualified for eight consecutive FIFA World Cups since 1998, reaching the round of 16 in 2002, 2010, and 2022. As co-host of the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, Japan advanced to the quarter-finals — their best result. Japan won the AFC Asian Cup four times (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) and has produced top players who compete in Europe's leading leagues.