Football is among the most popular sports in Japan, together with baseball, tennis, golf, sumo, and combat sports. Its nationwide organization, the Japan Football Association, administers the professional football leagues, including J.League, which is considered by many the most successful football league in Asia. Japan is also the country with the most comprehensively developed football in Asia in both men and women as well as in both futsal and beach soccer.
The Jordan national football team represents Jordan in international football and is controlled by the Jordan Football Association. Jordan have never qualified for the World Cup finals but have appeared five times in the Asian Cup and reached the final match of a major tournament for the first time in the 2023 edition, finishing as runners-up for the first time.
The Bahrain national football team represents Bahrain in international football and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Association, which was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA in 1966. They have never reached the World Cup, but have twice come within one match of doing so. Bahrain won the FIFA's most improved team award in 2004, and finished fourth in the 2004 Asian Cup, beating Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals but losing to Japan in the semi-finals 4–3. Bahrain then lost to Iran in the third-place match, thus finishing in fourth place overall. Bahrain had a golden year in 2019, winning both the WAFF Championship and the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time, under the stewardship of Hélio Sousa.
The China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's football competitions and is governed by the Chinese Football Association.
The Japan women's national football team, commonly known as Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン), represents Japan in women's association football and is run by the Japan Football Association (JFA). The only country to win every FIFA competition and the most successful women's national team in the Asian Football Confederation, its highest ranking in the FIFA Women's World Rankings is 3rd, achieved in December 2011.
The AFC U-20 Asian Cup, formerly known as the AFC Youth Championship and AFC U-19 Championship, is a biennial international association football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-20 national teams of Asia that also serves as a qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The competition has been held since 1959. Between 1959 and 1978, the tournament was held annually ; since 1980, it has been held every two years. The 1980 AFC Youth Championship had a qualification stage for first time.
The Indonesia national under-23 football team is considered to be the feeder team for the Indonesia national football team, represents Indonesia at football in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments including the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
Indonesia national under-20 football team represents Indonesia at international association football tournaments such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, AFC U-20 Asian Cup, ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship, and any under-20 tournaments.
The AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup is an association football tournament for women's national teams under the age of 20, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is organised by the Asian Football Confederation every two years, and serves as a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. It was first played in 2002 as the AFC U-19 Women's Championship with an upper age limit of 19. Starting from the 2022 edition, the age limit was raised to 20. Moreover, the tournament was rebranded from the "AFC U-19 Women's Championship" to the "AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup".
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's national football team represents North Korea in international women's football.
The South Korea women's national football team represents South Korea in international women's football competitions. The South Korean women's team has qualified for four FIFA World Cups in 2003, 2015, 2019 and 2023.
In Israeli football (soccer), the Israel national under-19 football team and the Israel national under-20 football team ; or simply Israel Under-19s, Israel U19s; Israel Under-20s, Israel U20s - both squads are also regarded as the feeders for the Israel national under-21 team.
The China national under-20 football team, also known as the China Youth Team (国青队), represents the People's Republic of China in international football competitions in the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the AFC Youth Championship, as well as any other under-20 international football tournaments. It is governed by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
The South Korea national under-23 football team represents South Korea at football in the Olympic Games and Asian Games. It was founded when the Olympic football was changed to an under-23 competition. It also can be managed as under-21 or under-22 team if necessary.
Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia. Football in Saudi Arabia is governed by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF). It was founded in 1956. It administers both the club competitions and the national football teams of Saudi Arabia.
The Japan national under-23 football team is a national association football youth team of Japan and is controlled by the Japan Football Association. The team won the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games and were champions in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. Since 1992, it was decided that teams targeting athletes under the age of 23 will participate in the Olympics. Therefore, the name changes to Japan national under-22 football team the year before the Olympics and Japan national under-21 football team two years prior. The exception to this was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed one year, so in 2021, the team was called the Japan national under-24 football team. At the 2024 Olympics, they advanced to the Knockout stage without three overage players and several key players.
Indonesia national under-17 football team represents Indonesia in international football competitions such as FIFA U-17 World Cup, AFC U-17 Asian Cup, ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship, and any other under-17 international football tournaments. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
The Japan women's national under-17 football team is a national association football youth team of Japan and is controlled by the Japan Football Association. It has reached the World Cup Finals on three times and won the 2014 edition.
The following are the scheduled events of association football for the year 2015 throughout the world.
The following were the events of association football for the year 2019 throughout the world.
