Japan vs Belgium
Japan's national football team: Asia's leading side with a record of World Cup knockout appearances and four Asian Cup titles.
The Japan national football team, controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), represents Japan in men's international football. Since the early 1990s, Japan has emerged as one of Asia's leading teams, qualifying for every FIFA World Cup since 1998 and advancing to the knockout stage in 2002, 2010, 2018, 2022, and 2026—the most knockout appearances of any Asian team. Japan has also won a record four Asian Cup titles (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) and finished as runners-up in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2019 Asian Cup.
Quick Facts
- First meeting
- Friendly match in 1930
- Most recent major encounter
- 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16
- Total matches played
- 6 (as of 2023)
- Japan wins
- 2
- Belgium wins
- 4
- Draws
- 0
- Defining match
- 2018 World Cup Round of 16 (3-2 to Belgium)
Lore & Background
Japan's earliest international matches were at the 1917 Far Eastern Championship Games. The Japan Football Association was formed in 1921, and Japan joined FIFA in 1929. Japan's first major achievement was a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. The team's first World Cup appearance was in 1998, and they have since become a consistent presence in the tournament. Japan is one of only three AFC teams to reach the final of a senior FIFA men's competition, alongside Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Reader's Guide
Japan's main rivals are South Korea and Australia, with additional rivalries against Iran and Saudi Arabia. The team has been invited to the Copa América in 1999, 2011, 2015, and 2019, but only played in the 1999 and 2019 editions. Japan is currently ranked 17th in the FIFA world ranking, the highest-ranked Asian side since December 2022.
Did You Know?
- Japan has not received a single red card in any World Cup since their first appearance in 1998, a world record.
- Japan was the first team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América.
- Japan's 1998 World Cup campaign saw all three defeats by a one-goal margin.
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