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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.
Yokohama F. Marinos is a Japanese professional football club based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. The club competes in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country.
Urawa Red Diamonds, colloquially Urawa Reds, also known as Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club from April 1992 to January 1996, is a professional football club in the city of Saitama, part of the Greater Tokyo Area in Japan. The club plays in the J1 League, the top tier of football in the country. Its name comes from the former city of Urawa, now part of Saitama.
Tokyo Verdy is a Japanese professional football club based in Inagi, Tokyo. The club set for a return to J1 League for 2024 season, following promotion from J2 League in 2023.
Júbilo Iwata is a Japanese professional football team based in Iwata, located in Shizuoka Prefecture. The club are set to compete in J1 League once again for 2024 season following promotion from J2 League in 2023.
Vissel Kobe is a Japanese professional football club based in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The team's home stadium is Noevir Stadium Kobe, in Hyōgo-ku, though some home matches are played at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Suma-ku.
The Nicaragua national football team represents Nicaragua in men's international football and is controlled by the Nicaraguan Football Federation. Nicaragua achieved their first qualification into a major international competition in 2009, as they qualified for the 2009 Gold Cup as the last entrant from Central America, after a 2–0 victory against Guatemala in the fifth place match in the 2009 Nations Cup. However, the team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, also known as Yoshi Kawaguchi, is a retired Japanese footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Fernando José Torres Sanz is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the current manager of Atlético Madrid Juvenil A. Due to his consistent goalscoring rate as a young player, Torres came to be nicknamed El Niño, which stuck with him throughout his career. In his prime, he was praised for his pace, accurate finishing, and proficiency in heading, and was named in the FIFA World XI twice.
Kashima Antlers are a professional football club based in Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan. They currently play in the J1 League, the top tier of Japanese professional football leagues. The club has financial backing from Mercari, a Japanese e-commerce company.
Sagan Tosu is a Japanese professional football club based in Tosu, Saga Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country.
Hitoshi Sogahata is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Kashima Antlers and the Japan national team.
Hiroshi Nanami is a Japanese former professional footballer, and currently works as an assistant coach of the Japan national team.
Atsushi Yanagisawa is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for Japan national team.
Mitsuo Ogasawara is a Japanese former. professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Japan national team.
Toshihiro Hattori is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or defender. He played for the Japan national team.
Ryuzo Morioka is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for Japan national team.
Daisuke Sakata is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
The Osaka derby is a commonly occurring football fixture in Japan, which takes place between teams from Osaka Prefecture. Currently the derby is contested by Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka.
The 1996 season was Shimizu S-Pulse's fifth season in existence and their fourth season in the J1 League. The club also competed in the Emperor's Cup, the J.League Cup, and the Suntory Cup. The team finished the season tenth in the league and won the J.League Cup.
