2021 in Japanese football

Football in Japan
Season	2021
Men's football
J1 League	Kawasaki Frontale
J2 League	Júbilo Iwata
J3 League	Roasso Kumamoto
Japan Football League	Iwaki FC
Japanese Regional Leagues	Criacao Shinjuku
Emperor's Cup	Urawa Red Diamonds
J.League Cup	Nagoya Grampus
Super Cup	Kawasaki Frontale
Women's football
Nadeshiko Division 1	Iga FC Kunoichi
Nadeshiko Division 2	JFA Academy Fukushima

Last updated March 26, 2024

This article summarizes Japanese football in the 2021 season.

National team results and fixtures

Men's

Senior

25 March 2021 Friendly	Japan	3–0	South Korea	Yokohama, Japan
19:20 UTC+9	Yamane 16' Kamada 27' Endo 83'	Report		Stadium: Nissan Stadium Referee: Rowan Arumughan (India)

30 March 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Mongolia	0–14	Japan	Chiba, Japan^{[lower-alpha 1]}
19:20 UTC+9		Report	Minamino 13' Osako 23', 55', 90+2' Kamada 26' Morita 33' Tuya 39' (o.g.) Inagaki 68', 90+3' Ito 73', 79' Furuhashi 78', 87' Asano 90+1'	Stadium: Fukuda Denshi Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)

28 May 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Japan	10–0	Myanmar	Chiba, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Minamino 8', 66' Osako 22', 30' (pen.), 36', 49', 88' Morita 56' Kamada 84' Itakura 90'	Report		Stadium: Fukuda Denshi Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Hasan Akrami (Iran)

7 June 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Japan	4–1	Tajikistan	Suita, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Furuhashi 6' Minamino 40' Hashimoto 51' Kawabe 70'	Report	Panjshanbe 9'	Stadium: Panasonic Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Abdulrehman Al Jassim (Qatar)

11 June 2021 Kirin Challenge Cup	Japan	1–0	Serbia	Kobe, Japan
19:25 UTC+9	Ito 48'	Report		Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe Referee: Payam Heidari (Iran)

15 June 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Japan	5–1	Kyrgyzstan	Suita, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Onaiwu 27' (pen.), 31', 33' Sasaki 72' Asano 77'	Report	Murzaev 45+2' (pen.)	Stadium: Panasonic Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Omar Al-Yaqoubi (Oman)

2 September 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Japan	0–1	Oman	Suita, Japan
19:15 UTC+9		Report	Al-Sabhi 88'	Stadium: Suita City Football Stadium Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

7 September 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	China	0–1	Japan	Doha, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3		Report	Osako 40'	Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

7 October 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Saudi Arabia	1–0	Japan	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
20:00 UTC+3	Al-Buraikan 71'	Report		Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Attendance: 51,218 Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)

12 October 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Japan	2–1	Australia	Saitama, Japan
19:14 UTC+9	Tanaka 8' Behich 85' (o.g.)	Report	Hrustic 70'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Attendance: 14,437 Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)

11 November 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Vietnam	0–1	Japan	Hanoi, Vietnam
19:00 UTC+7		Report	Ito 17'	Stadium: Mỹ Đình National Stadium Attendance: 11,022 Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

16 November 2021 2022 World Cup qualification	Oman	0–1	Japan	Muscat, Oman
20:00 UTC+4		Report	Ito 81'	Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)

U-23

3 June Unofficial friendly	Japan A	3–0	Japan	Hokkaido, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Hashimoto 2' Kamada 41' Asano 52'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Sapporo Dome Attendance: 0 Referee: Mohamed Darwish (UAE)

5 June Friendly	Japan	6–0	Ghana	Fukuoka, Japan
19:25 UTC+9	Doan 16' Kubo 32' Assinki 45' (o.g.) Soma 48' Ueda 56' Mitoma 89'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Best Denki Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

12 June Friendly	Japan	4–0	Jamaica	Toyota, Aichi, Japan
13:35 UTC+9	Kubo 32' Endo 42' Ueda 57' Doan 64'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 4,029 Referee: Yudai Yamamoto (Japan)

12 July Kirin Challenge Cup (Under-24)	Japan	3–1	Honduras	Osaka, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Yoshida 13' Doan 40', 85'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA)	Tomiyasu 66' (o.g.)	Stadium: Yodoko Sakura Stadium Attendance: 4,063 Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

17 July Kirin Challenge Cup (Under-24)	Japan	1–1	Spain	Hyogo, Japan
19:20 UTC+9	Doan 42'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA)	C. Soler 78'	Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe Attendance: 4,909 Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

22 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	Japan	1–0	South Africa	Tokyo, Japan
20:00 UTC+9	Kubo 71'	Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Tokyo Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)

25 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	Japan	2–1	Mexico	Saitama, Japan
20:00 UTC+9	Kubo 6' Doan 11' (pen.)	Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Alvarado 85'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Attendance: 0 Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)

28 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	France	0–4	Japan	Yokohama, Japan
20:30 UTC+9		Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Kubo 27' Sakai 34' Miyoshi 70' Maeda 90+1'	Stadium: International Stadium Yokohama Attendance: 0 Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)

31 July 2020 Summer Olympics Quarter-finals	Japan	0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	New Zealand	Ibaraki, Japan
18:00 UTC+9		Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Kashima Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA)
	Penalties
	Ueda Itakura Nakayama Yoshida		Wood Cacace Lewis McCowatt

3 August 2020 Summer Olympics Semi-finals	Japan	0–1 (a.e.t.)	Spain	Saitama, Japan
20:00 UTC+9		Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Asensio 115'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)

6 August 2020 Summer Olympics Bronze medal match	Mexico	3–1	Japan	Saitama, Japan
18:00 UTC+9	Córdova 13' (pen.) Vásquez 22' Vega 58'	Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Mitoma 78'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Attendance: 0 Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

26 October 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Group K	Japan	4–0	Cambodia	Hirono, Japan
13:00 UTC+9	Matsuki 10' Koda 44' Hosoya 52' Nakamura 73'	Report		Stadium: J-Village Stadium

28 October 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Group K	Hong Kong	0–4	Japan	Hirono, Japan
13:00 UTC+9		Report	Fujio 14', 49' Goke 63' Hosoya 85'	Stadium: J-Village Stadium

Games of the XXXII Olympiad – JFA.jp
2021 Schedules – JFA.jp (as of 16 December 2020)

U-20

The 2020 AFC U-19 Championship was cancelled after the draw for the group stage was conducted.^[2]

March 20212020 AFC U-19 Championship Group Stage	Japan	Cancelled	Iraq	Tashkent, Uzbekistan
				Stadium: Lokomotiv Stadium

March 20212020 AFC U-19 Championship Group Stage	Bahrain	Cancelled	Japan	Tashkent, Uzbekistan
				Stadium: Lokomotiv Stadium

March 20212020 AFC U-19 Championship Group Stage	South Korea	Cancelled	Japan	Tashkent, Uzbekistan
				Stadium: Lokomotiv Stadium

18 DecemberIBARAKI Next Generation Match 2021 1st Round	Kashima Antlers Youth	2–6	Japan	Hitachinaka, Japan
11:00	Kai Kikuchi 60' Keita Imai 90+1'	Report (JFA)	Jiro Nakamura 3' Isa Sakamoto 13', 19' Taishin Yamazaki 39' Koki Toyoda 55' Kanta Chiba 85'	Stadium: Hitachinaka Athletics Stadium

19 DecemberIBARAKI Next Generation Match 2021 Final	Japan	1–2	U-20 Kanto University Selection	Hitachinaka, Japan
14:00	Kanta Chiba 41'	Report (JFA)	unknown 61', 87'	Stadium: Hitachinaka Athletics Stadium

U-17

2–6 June U-16 International Dream Cup	Japan	Cancelled		Japan
		Cancellation

2–6 June U-16 International Dream Cup	Japan	Cancelled		Japan
		Cancellation

2–6 June U-16 International Dream Cup	Japan	Cancelled		Japan
		Cancellation

Fixtures & Results – JFA.jp
2021 schedules – JFA.jp (as of 16 December 2020)

Futsal

19 August 2021 (2021-08-19) Friendly	Portugal	3–2	Japan	Rio Maior, Portugal
19:00 *Local time	? 25' ? 29' ? 37'	Report (JFA)	Shimizu 21' Henmi 28'	Stadium: Pavilhao Polidesportivo Rio Maior Sports Centre

22 August 2021 (2021-08-22) Friendly	Japan	2–2	Venezuela	Rio Maior, Portugal
19:00 *Local time	Murota 7' Arthur 16'	Report (JFA)	? 16' ? 39'	Stadium: Pavilhão Polidesportivo Rio Maior

25 August 2021 (2021-08-25) Friendly	Argentina	2–1	Japan	Jaén, Spain
20:30 *Local time	? 1' ? 6'	Report (JFA)	Shimizu 29'	Stadium: Palacio de deportes Olivo Arena

29 August 2021 (2021-08-29) Friendly	Japan	1–0	Vietnam	Jaén, Spain
18:00 *Local time	Shimizu 36'	Report (JFA)		Stadium: Palacio de deportes Olivo Arena

31 August 2021 (2021-08-31) Friendly	Spain	2–0	Japan	Jaén, Spain
20:15 *Local time		Report (JFA)		Stadium: Palacio de deportes Olivo Arena

7 September 2021 (2021-09-07) Friendly	Japan	3–0	Morocco	Lithuania
		Report (JFA)

14 September 2021 (2021-09-14) FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group E	Angola	4–8	Japan	Klaipėda, Lithuania
20:00 EEST (UTC+3)	Guga 19', 21' R. Hoshi 24' (o.g.) Kaluanda 29'	Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Oliveira 13', 20', 23', 37' Murota 14' R. Hoshi 25' Nishitani 25' S. Hoshi 40'	Stadium: Švyturys Arena Attendance: 607 Referee: Diego López (Costa Rica)

17 September 2021 (2021-09-17) FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group E	Spain	4–2	Japan	Klaipėda, Lithuania
18:00 EEST (UTC+3)	Díaz 4' Chino 26' Campos 30' Tolrà 39'	Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	S. Hoshi 5' Henmi 8'	Stadium: Švyturys Arena Attendance: 712 Referee: Valeria Palma (Chile)

20 September 2021 (2021-09-20) FIFA Futsal World Cup GS Group E	Japan	1–2	Paraguay	Vilnius, Lithuania
18:00 EEST (UTC+3)	Shimizu 3'	Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Mareco 7' J. Salas 33'	Stadium: Avia Solutions Group Arena Attendance: 792 Referee: Roberto López (Panama)

23 September 2021 (2021-09-23) FIFA Futsal World Cup Round of 16	Brazil	4–2	Japan	Kaunas, Lithuania
20:00 EEST (UTC+3)	Ferrão 5' Leozinho 31' Pito 38' Kato 40' (o.g.)	Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	S. Hoshi 4' Nishitani 38'	Stadium: Žalgiris Arena Attendance: 918 Referee: Irina Velikanova (Russia)

Fixtures & Results (Futsal 2021), JFA.jp

U-20 futsal

Beach soccer

19 August 2021 (2021-08-19) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup GS Group A	Paraguay	4–7	Japan	Moscow, Russia
16:30 UTC+3	Cantero 10' N. Medina 10', 13' Morán 27'	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Ojeda 21' (o.g.) Akaguma 26', 32', 32' Yamauchi 29', 33' (pen.), 36'	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium Attendance: 598 Referee: Francisco de Oses Bumedien (Spain)

21 August 2021 (2021-08-21) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup GS Group A	Japan	4–3	United States	Moscow, Russia
16:30 UTC+3	Okuyama 4' Ozu 23' Oba 28' (pen.) Yamauchi 31'	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Silveira 3' Canale 29' Perea 34'	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,507 Referee: Aurélien Planchais-Godefroy (Tahiti)

23 August 2021 (2021-08-23) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup GS Group A	Japan	1–7	RFU	Moscow, Russia
20:30 UTC+3	Akaguma 32'	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Ozu 1' (o.g.) Paporotnyi 3', 25', 27' Zemskov 8' Chuzhkov 15' Nikonorov 36'	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Micke Palomino (Peru)

26 August 2021 (2021-08-26) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Quarter-finals	Tahiti	4–5 (a.e.t.)	Japan	Moscow, Russia
19:00 UTC+3	Tetauira 20' (pen.), 37' Chan-Kat 30' Uesato 36' (o.g.)	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Tehau 4' (o.g.) Yamauchi 5' (pen.) Oba 36' Okuyama 37' Akaguma 38'	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium

28 August 2021 (2021-08-28) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Semi-finals	Japan	5–2	Senegal	Moscow, Russia
19:30 UTC+3	Akaguma 15' (pen.), 29', 33' Oba 27' Okuyama 27'	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Fall 26' Boye 32'	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Arena Attendance: 1,950 Referee: Łukasz Ostrowski (Poland)

29 August 2021 (2021-08-29) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final	RFU	5–2	Japan	Moscow, Russia
19:30 UTC+3	Zemskov 4' Krasheninnikov 13', 34' Nivikov 15' Paporotnyi 19'	Report (BSWW) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA)	Akaguma 13', 17' (pen.)	Stadium: Luzhniki Beach Soccer Arena Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Suhaimi Mat Hassan (Malaysia)

2 November 2021 (2021-11-02) Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup	Russia	7–6	Japan	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
18:45 UTC+4		Report (BSWW) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Kite Beach

3 November 2021 (2021-11-03) Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup	Iran	6–1	Japan	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
20:00 UTC+4		Report (BSWW) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Kite Beach

4 November 2021 (2021-11-04) Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup	Japan	4–6 (a.e.t.)	Paraguay	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
16:00 UTC+4		Report (BSWW) Report (JFA)		Stadium: Kite Beach

5 November 2021 Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup (5th–8th place semi-finals)	United Arab Emirates	4–6	Japan
17:15		Report(BSWW) Report(JFA)

6 November 2021 Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup (5th place play-off)	Japan	5–4	Spain
16:15		Report(BSWW) Report(JFA)

Fixtures & Results (Beach soccer 2021)

Women's

Senior

8 April Friendly	Japan	7–0	Paraguay	Sendai, Japan
16:30 UTC+9	Minami 6' Iwabuchi 26', 63' Bogarin 36' (o.g.) Sugasawa 52' Momiki 90+2' Tanaka 90+3'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)		Stadium: Yurtec Stadium Sendai Attendance: 818 Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)

11 April Friendly	Japan	7–0	Panama	Tokyo, Japan
13:30 UTC+9	Sugasawa 8', 42', 56' Shimizu 17' Hasegawa 32' Momiki 45' Sugita 61'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)		Stadium: Japan National Stadium Attendance: 4,036 Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)

10 June Friendly	Japan	8–0	Ukraine	Hiroshima, Japan
15:15 UTC+9	Shiokoshi 5', 41' Iwabuchi 30', 58' Takarada 38' Sugita 80' Tanaka 89' (pen.) Momiki 90'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)		Stadium: Edion Stadium Hiroshima Attendance: 796 Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)

13 June MS&AD CUP	Japan	5–1	Mexico	Utsunomiya, Japan
14:00 UTC+9	Iwabuchi 36' Tanaka 46' Momiki 54' Kinoshita 74' Endo 88'	Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (FMF) Report (SW)	González 49'	Stadium: Kanseki Stadium Tochigi Attendance: 3,890 Referee: Asaka Koizumi (England)

14 July MS&AD CUP	Japan	1–0	Australia	Kameoka, Japan
19:20 UTC+9	Iwabuchi 54' (pen.)	Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (FA) Report (SW)		Stadium: Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Attendance: 2,584 Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan)

21 July Olympics GS	Japan	1–1	Canada	Sapporo, Japan
19:30 UTC+9	Iwabuchi 84'	Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)	Sinclair 6'	Stadium: Sapporo Dome Attendance: 0 Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)

24 July Olympics GS	Japan	0–1	Great Britain	Sapporo, Japan
19:30 UTC+9		Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)	White 74'	Stadium: Sapporo Dome Attendance: 0 Referee: Anastasia Pustovoitova (Russia)

27 July Olympics GS	Chile	0–1	Japan	Rifu, Japan
20:00 UTC+9		Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)	Tanaka 77'	Stadium: Miyagi Stadium Attendance: 1,326 Referee: Melissa Borjas (Honduras)

30 July Olympics QF	Sweden	3–1	Japan	Saitama, Japan
19:00 UTC+9	Eriksson 7' Blackstenius 53' Asllani 68' (pen.)	Report (TOCOG) Report (FIFA) Report (JFA) Report (SW)	Tanaka 23'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Attendance: 0^[3] Referee: Lucila Venegas (Mexico)

25 November Friendly	Japan	0–2	Iceland	Almere, Netherlands
TBD CET (UTC+1)		Report (JFA) Report (JFA) Report (Soccerway)	S. Jónsdóttir 14' Torvalsdottir 70'	Stadium: Yanmar Stadion

29 November Friendly	Netherlands	0–0	Japan	The Hague, Netherlands
19:40 CET (UTC+1)		Report (JFA) Report (Soccerway)		Stadium: Cars Jeans Stadion

U-20

U-17

Futsal

Club competitions

Men's

Promotion and relegation

League	Promoted to league	Relegated from league
J1 League	Tokushima Vortis Avispa Fukuoka	No relegation
J2 League	Blaublitz Akita SC Sagamihara	No relegation
J3 League	Tegevajaro Miyazaki	No relegation
Japan Football League	Criacao Shinjuku	No relegation

J1 League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Kawasaki Frontale (C)	38	28	8	2	81	28	+53	92	Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage
2	Yokohama F. Marinos	38	24	7	7	82	35	+47	79	Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage
3	Vissel Kobe	38	21	10	7	62	36	+26	73	Qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off round
4	Kashima Antlers	38	21	6	11	62	36	+26	69
5	Nagoya Grampus	38	19	9	10	44	30	+14	66
6	Urawa Red Diamonds	38	18	9	11	45	38	+7	63^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage ^{[lower-alpha 3]}
7	Sagan Tosu	38	16	11	11	43	35	+8	59
8	Avispa Fukuoka	38	14	12	12	42	37	+5	54
9	FC Tokyo	38	15	8	15	49	53	−4	53
10	Consadole Sapporo	38	14	9	15	48	50	−2	51
11	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	38	12	13	13	44	42	+2	49
12	Cerezo Osaka	38	13	9	16	47	51	−4	48
13	Gamba Osaka	38	12	8	18	33	49	−16	44
14	Shimizu S-Pulse	38	10	12	16	37	54	−17	42
15	Kashiwa Reysol	38	12	5	21	37	56	−19	41
16	Shonan Bellmare	38	7	16	15	36	41	−5	37^{[lower-alpha 2]}
17	Tokushima Vortis (R)	38	10	6	22	34	55	−21	36	Relegation to the J2 League
18	Oita Trinita (R)	38	9	8	21	31	55	−24	35
19	Vegalta Sendai (R)	38	5	13	20	31	62	−31	28
20	Yokohama FC (R)	38	6	9	23	32	77	−45	27

Source: Meiji Yasuda J1 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegation to the J2 League
Notes:

↑ The Mongolia v Japan match was played in Chiba, Japan.^[1]
1 2 The JPFL awarded a 3–0 win to Shonan Bellmare after Urawa Red Diamonds fielded Zion Suzuki who was an ineligible player. The original score was 3–2 for Shonan Bellmare.^[4]^[5]
↑ Qualified as winners of the 2021 Emperor's Cup.

J2 League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion
1	Júbilo Iwata (C)	42	27	10	5	75	42	+33	91	Promotion to J1 League
2	Kyoto Sanga	42	24	12	6	59	31	+28	84	Promotion to J1 League
3	Ventforet Kofu	42	23	11	8	65	38	+27	80
4	V-Varen Nagasaki	42	23	9	10	69	44	+25	78
5	Machida Zelvia	42	20	12	10	64	38	+26	72
6	Albirex Niigata	42	18	14	10	61	40	+21	68
7	Montedio Yamagata	42	20	8	14	61	49	+12	68
8	JEF United Chiba	42	17	15	10	48	36	+12	66
9	FC Ryukyu	42	18	11	13	57	47	+10	65
10	Mito HollyHock	42	16	11	15	59	50	+9	59
11	Fagiano Okayama	42	15	14	13	40	36	+4	59
12	Tokyo Verdy	42	16	10	16	62	66	−4	58
13	Blaublitz Akita	42	11	14	17	41	53	−12	47
14	Tochigi SC	42	10	15	17	37	51	−14	45
15	Renofa Yamaguchi	42	10	13	19	37	51	−14	43
16	Omiya Ardija	42	9	15	18	51	56	−5	42
17	Zweigen Kanazawa	42	10	11	21	39	60	−21	41
18	Thespakusatsu Gunma	42	9	14	19	35	56	−21	41
19	SC Sagamihara ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	42	8	14	20	33	54	−21	38	Relegation to J3 League
20	Ehime FC	42	7	14	21	38	67	−29	35
21	Giravanz Kitakyushu	42	7	14	21	35	66	−31	35
22	Matsumoto Yamaga	42	7	13	22	36	71	−35	34

Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions
Notes:

↑ Since Sagamihara did not hold a J1 license, the club was ineligible for promotion to the 2022 J1 League.

J3 League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion
1	Roasso Kumamoto (C)	28	15	9	4	39	20	+19	54	Promotion to J2 League ^{[lower-alpha 1]}
2	Iwate Grulla Morioka	28	15	8	5	43	28	+15	53	Promotion to J2 League ^{[lower-alpha 1]}
3	Tegevajaro Miyazaki ^{[lower-alpha 2]}	28	16	5	7	44	31	+13	53
4	Kataller Toyama	28	13	7	8	40	34	+6	46
5	Fukushima United ^{[lower-alpha 2]}	28	13	6	9	41	32	+9	45^{[lower-alpha 3]}
6	FC Gifu	28	12	5	11	38	35	+3	41
7	Kagoshima United	28	11	7	10	34	35	−1	40
8	YSCC Yokohama	28	11	7	10	31	33	−2	40
9	Nagano Parceiro	28	8	12	8	35	28	+7	36
10	Fujieda MYFC	28	8	8	12	42	42	0	32
11	FC Imabari ^{[lower-alpha 2]}	28	7	9	12	34	33	+1	30
12	Gainare Tottori	28	9	2	17	36	53	−17	29
13	Vanraure Hachinohe	28	7	8	13	24	44	−20	29^{[lower-alpha 3]}
14	Azul Claro Numazu ^{[lower-alpha 2]}	28	7	6	15	32	44	−12	27
15	Kamatamare Sanuki	28	4	9	15	20	41	−21	21

Source: 2021 MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE League table, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goal scored; 6) Number of wins; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fair-play points
(C) Champions
Notes:

↑ Only teams that hold a J2 license are eligible for promotion.
1 2 3 4 The team held neither a J1 nor J2 license, and so was ineligible for promotion to the J2 League.
1 2 The match between Fukushima United and Vanraure Hachinohe resulted in a 2–0 win for Fukushima, but was changed to an awarded 0–3 scoreline by the J.League, after Fukushima allowed a player who had not received a negative test to play in the game.^[6] The original result was restored following a decision by the JFA Appeal Committee.^[7]

Japan Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or qualification
1	Iwaki FC ^{[lower-alpha 1]}(C, P)	32	21	8	3	65	28	+37	71	Promotion to J3 League ^{[lower-alpha 2]}
2	Honda FC	32	20	7	5	69	25	+44	67
3	Verspah Oita ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	19	5	8	46	24	+22	62
4	Suzuka Point Getters ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	15	5	12	51	46	+5	50
5	Matsue City	32	14	8	10	38	37	+1	50
6	Sony Sendai	32	14	6	12	52	39	+13	48
7	F.C. Osaka ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	13	9	10	37	35	+2	48
8	Tiamo Hirakata	32	14	6	12	58	57	+1	48
9	ReinMeer Aomori ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	12	9	11	41	49	−8	45
10	Nara Club ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	10	13	9	39	36	+3	43
11	Veertien Mie ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	10	10	12	40	43	−3	40
12	MIO Biwako Shiga ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	32	10	7	15	35	48	−13	37
13	Kochi United	32	9	6	17	30	49	−19	33
14	Maruyasu Okazaki	32	8	9	15	27	46	−19	33
15	Tokyo Musashino United	32	9	5	18	38	53	−15	32
16	Honda Lock (O)	32	6	9	17	26	48	−22	27	Qualification for relegation play-offs ^{[lower-alpha 3]}
17	FC Kariya (R)	32	4	6	22	26	55	−29	18	Qualification for relegation play-offs ^{[lower-alpha 3]}

Updated to match(es) played on 28 November 2021. Source: JFL website (in Japanese)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head results (a. points, b. goal difference, c. goals scored); 5) number of wins; 6) disciplinary points; 7) play-off (if necessary)^[8]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 J.League 100 Year Plan clubs
↑ Promotion was conditional on holding a J3 license (marked in bold in the table), finishing in the top 4 of the JFL, and finishing in the top 2 of the J.League 100 Year Plan clubs.
↑ Relegation will occur as follows.
In case of 1 team promoted to J3: Japan Regional Football Champions League winners will play the 17th-placed team in JFL, and runners-up will also play the 16th-placed team in JFL.

Regional Leagues

Women's

Promotion and relegation

WE League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	INAC Kobe Leonessa	20	16	2	2	35	9	+26	50	League Winner
2	Urawa Red Diamonds	20	13	3	4	40	24	+16	42
3	Tokyo Verdy Beleza	20	10	4	6	32	18	+14	34
4	JEF United Chiba	20	9	7	4	26	18	+8	34
5	MyNavi Sendai	20	9	4	7	25	16	+9	31
6	Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina	20	7	4	9	24	26	−2	25
7	AC Nagano Parceiro	20	5	6	9	15	24	−9	21
8	Albirex Niigata	20	4	7	9	20	30	−10	19
9	Omiya Ardija Ventus	20	3	9	8	17	31	−14	18
10	Nojima Stella Kanagawa	20	2	7	11	13	31	−18	13
11	AS Elfen Saitama	20	2	7	11	13	33	−20	13

Source: WE League, WE League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Nadeshiko League (Division 1)

Nadeshiko League (Division 2)

Notes

References

↑ "SAMURAI BLUE　FIFAワールドカップカタール2022アジア2次予選兼 AFCアジアカップ中国2023予選　3/30 SAMURAI BLUE 対モンゴル代表戦日本での開催決定". Japan Football Association. 10 February 2021.
↑ "Latest update on AFC Competitions in 2021". Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
↑ "Attendance Summary" (PDF). Olympics.com. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
↑ "湘南戦に無資格選手を出場させた浦和、けん責と3-0敗戦の懲罰が決定…浦和は「不服申し立ても含めた対応を検討」". web.ultra-soccer.jp (in Japanese). 1 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
↑ "J1浦和、6月湘南戦は0-3の敗戦扱いに　無資格選手が出場". nikkei.com (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
↑ "Jリーグがエントリー不備で3チームを処分…福島は勝ち試合が0–3負け試合に". web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
↑ "明治安田生命Ｊ３リーグ第8節福島ユナイテッドＦＣ vs. ヴァンラーレ八戸の公式記録の訂正について". J.League.jp (in Japanese). 14 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
↑ "第２３回日本フットボールリーグ(2021)" (in Japanese). Japan Football League.

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[2] The Mongolia v Japan match was played in Chiba, Japan.^[1]

[table_hth_BEL0.97256595034737-5] 1 2 The JPFL awarded a 3–0 win to Shonan Bellmare after Urawa Red Diamonds fielded Zion Suzuki who was an ineligible player. The original score was 3–2 for Shonan Bellmare.^[4]^[5]

[table_note_res_CW-CLGS0.97256595034737-6] Qualified as winners of the 2021 Emperor's Cup.

[table_note_SGM0.61709992476604-9] Since Sagamihara did not hold a J1 license, the club was ineligible for promotion to the 2022 J1 League.

[table_note_res_P0.75357313256411-10] Only teams that hold a J2 license are eligible for promotion.

[table_note_AZU0.75357313256411-11] 1 2 3 4 The team held neither a J1 nor J2 license, and so was ineligible for promotion to the J2 League.

[table_hth_FUK0.75357313256411-14] 1 2 The match between Fukushima United and Vanraure Hachinohe resulted in a 2–0 win for Fukushima, but was changed to an awarded 0–3 scoreline by the J.League, after Fukushima allowed a player who had not received a negative test to play in the game.^[6] The original result was restored following a decision by the JFA Appeal Committee.^[7]

[table_note_IWK0.97010447316342-15] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 J.League 100 Year Plan clubs

[table_note_res_P0.97010447316342-16] Promotion was conditional on holding a J3 license (marked in bold in the table), finishing in the top 4 of the JFL, and finishing in the top 2 of the J.League 100 Year Plan clubs.

[table_note_res_PO0.97010447316342-17] Relegation will occur as follows.
In case of 1 team promoted to J3: Japan Regional Football Champions League winners will play the 17th-placed team in JFL, and runners-up will also play the 16th-placed team in JFL.

[MNGJPN-1] "SAMURAI BLUE　FIFAワールドカップカタール2022アジア2次予選兼 AFCアジアカップ中国2023予選　3/30 SAMURAI BLUE 対モンゴル代表戦日本での開催決定". Japan Football Association. 10 February 2021.

[cancelled-3] "Latest update on AFC Competitions in 2021". Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

[attendance-4] "Attendance Summary" (PDF). Olympics.com. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.

[7] "湘南戦に無資格選手を出場させた浦和、けん責と3-0敗戦の懲罰が決定…浦和は「不服申し立ても含めた対応を検討」". web.ultra-soccer.jp (in Japanese). 1 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.

[8] "J1浦和、6月湘南戦は0-3の敗戦扱いに　無資格選手が出場". nikkei.com (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.

[12] "Jリーグがエントリー不備で3チームを処分…福島は勝ち試合が0–3負け試合に". web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

[13] "明治安田生命Ｊ３リーグ第8節福島ユナイテッドＦＣ vs. ヴァンラーレ八戸の公式記録の訂正について". J.League.jp (in Japanese). 14 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

[18] "第２３回日本フットボールリーグ(2021)" (in Japanese). Japan Football League.

[lower-alpha 1]

[2]

[3]

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 3]

[1]

[4]

[5]

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 3]

[6]

[7]

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 2]

[lower-alpha 3]

[8]

2021 in Japanese football

Contents

National team results and fixtures

Men's

Senior

U-23

U-20

U-17

Futsal

U-20 futsal

Beach soccer

Women's

Senior

U-20

U-17

Futsal

Club competitions

Men's

Promotion and relegation

J1 League

J2 League

J3 League

Japan Football League

Regional Leagues

Women's

Promotion and relegation

WE League

Nadeshiko League (Division 1)

Nadeshiko League (Division 2)

Notes

Related Research Articles

References

v t e 2021 in association football
AFC	Australia China India Indonesia Japan Lebanon 20'–21' 21'–22' South Korea Thailand
CAF	Algeria
CONCACAF	Canada United States
CONMEBOL	Brazil
OFC	New Zealand 20'–21' 2021
UEFA	Belgium Croatia England France Germany Italy Netherlands Poland Scotland Slovakia Spain Switzerland Turkey Ukraine