The Japan National team represents Japan in the international friendlies and the World Cup.
Japanese NT plays international games since 2002, and took part to qualifying for World Cup I, edition in which the country was also host (but failed to qualify).
The Japanese National Team has qualified for the World Cup main phase in the following occasions:
The first qualification was back during WC 5. Japan outsmarted France, Indonesia and Uruguay in the qualification group games and made it to the last 32. Here Japan finished third in front of Austria, but behind Indonesia and Italy which qualified for round III.
The success was repeated 10 seasons later during WC 10 when Japan managed to beat Portugal and Suomi among few others in the qualification group. In round II the team once again finished third behind Portugal and Colombia, but ahead of Venezuela.
For the WC 11 Japan finished second in the qualification behind Spain and thus made it to the World Cup main phase for the 3rd time. Here they beat Russia with an amazing 6-2 in their first game.
In WC 12 Japan qualified to second round where the team placed 3rd before Denmark.
During WC 15 Japan placed third in Round II after winning again 6-2 a match, this time against Canada.
In WC 25 Japan qualified first both in Round I and Round II groups, but was then eliminated in Round III after only one victory.
For the WC 26 Japan finished second in the qualification behind Chile, but then was thrown out of the competition by Croatia, Scotland and Cuba.
WC 27 remains the best result ever for Japan in World Cup as they finished 3rd in Round III, just one goal away from qualification, with the same points of Italy which passed the turn as second in Group and then go on to win the tournament.
Nippon
15-03-2002
01-03-2002
