In 2004, J. League introduced a series of two test matches called League Promotion/relegation Series between the sixteenth-place J. Division 1 (J1) club and third-place J.league Division 2 (J2) club. The winner of this game receives the third and final ticket to J1 in the following season, with the first two going to the first- and second-place J2 teams at the end of the season.
The 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, the second staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Japan from 26 August to 7 September 1979. It was the first FIFA tournament played in Asia. The tournament took place in four cities — Kobe, Omiya, Tokyo and Yokohama — where a total of 32 matches were played, four more than in the previous edition due to the addition of a quarterfinal round in the knockout stage.
The 87th Emperor's Cup has been held between September 16, 2007 and January 1, 2008. It was won by Kashima Antlers.
The 86th Emperor's Cup had been held between September 17, 2006, and January 1, 2007. The previous season's winners Urawa Red Diamonds defended the Cup and completed the league-cup double.
The 88th Emperor's Cup began on September 13, 2008 and ended on January 1, 2009 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo. As the champion, Gamba Osaka participated in 2009 AFC Champions League.
The 2009 AFC Champions League knockout stage was played from 26 May to 7 November 2009. A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2009 AFC Champions League.
The 89th Emperor's Cup began on September 19, 2009 and ended on January 1, 2010 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Gamba Osaka won the title for the second consecutive season. Since Gamba already confirmed 2010 AFC Champions League berth, the last spot of ACL for J.League club is awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, which finished as 4th place of 2009 J.League Division 1.
The 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was the 6th edition of the tournament. The tournament was played in Japan from 19 August to 8 September with sixteen national football teams and marked the first hosting of a FIFA women's tournament in the country.
The 90th Emperor's Cup (第90回天皇杯) began on 4 September 2010 and ended on 1 January 2011 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Gamba Osaka were the two-time defending champions, having won two previous tournaments.
The 2011 J. League Cup, also known as the 2011 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, is the 36th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 19th edition under the current J. League Cup format. It was scheduled to begin on 16 March 2011 with the first matches of the group stage; however, the competition was postponed due to the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Later the beginning of the tournament is set to 5 June, with reducing the number of matches.
The 91st Emperor's Cup (第91回天皇杯) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 3 September 2011 and ended on 1 January 2012 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by FC Tokyo 4–2 against Kyoto Sanga.
The 2012 J.League Cup, also known as the 2012 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, was the 37th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 20th edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 92nd Emperor's Cup (第92回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 1 September 2012 and ended on 1 January 2013 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by Kashiwa Reysol 1–0 against Gamba Osaka.
The 2013 J.League Division 2 season is the 42nd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 15th season since the establishment of J2 League. The regular season began on 3 March and ended on 24 November, followed by the promotion play-offs among four clubs ranked between 3rd and 6th at the end of regular season. Gamba Osaka became champions, and Vissel Kobe became runners-up, both returned to J1 immediately after one season at J2. The other promoted team is third runners-up Tokushima Vortis, who won the promotion playoff final, defeating Kyoto Sanga FC. With the win, Vortis are making their J1 debut, becoming the first professional Shikoku football club to compete in the top division of their national league.
The 2013 J.League Cup, also known as the 2013 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, was the 38th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 21st edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 2014 J.League Cup, also known as the 2014 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, is the 39th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 22nd edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 2016 J.League Cup is the 41st edition of the most prestigious Japanese football league cup tournament and the 24th edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 2021 J.League Cup, known as the 2021 J.League YBC Levain Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. It began on 2 March 2021 and ended on 30 October that year.
The 2022 J.League Cup, known as the 2022 J.League YBC Levain Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. It began on 23 February 2022 and ended on 22 October that year.
The 2023 J.League Cup, known as the 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 31st edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. Unlike previous editions, the competition did not use the away goals rule. No byes awarded for the knockout stage and thus no knockout round playoffs.
Nigeria (2nd title)
Ghana 
Chile 
Poland 
