Japan

Japan

The Japan national football team, known as the Samurai Blue, is governed by the Japan Football Association (founded 1921) and has been Asia's most consistent World Cup qualifier, appearing at every tournament since 1998. Japan won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) and reached the Round of 16 at the 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, defeating Germany and Spain in Qatar 2022. Under coaches including Takeshi Okada, Alberto Zaccheroni, and Hajime Moriyasu, the team has evolved into a formidable side. Key players include Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Keisuke Honda, and modern stars Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan. Japan's football culture has grown enormously with the J-League's success since 1993, and the national team continues to improve on the global stage.