2018 in Japanese football

The 2018 season was the 90th season of competitive association football in Japan.

Football in Japan
Season2018
Men's football
J1 LeagueKawasaki Frontale
J2 LeagueMatsumoto Yamaga
J3 LeagueFC Ryukyu
Japan Football LeagueHonda FC
Emperor's CupUrawa Red Diamonds
J.League CupShonan Bellmare
Japanese Super CupCerezo Osaka
Women's football
Nadeshiko League 1NTV Beleza
Nadeshiko League 2Iga FC Kunoichi
Empress's CupNTV Beleza
Nadeshiko League CupNTV Beleza
← 2017Japan2019 →

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from J1 League

Teams promoted to J1 League

Teams relegated from J2 League

Teams promoted to J2 League

Teams relegated from J3 League

No relegation to the Japan Football League

Teams promoted to J3 League

Teams promoted to Japan Football League

Men's Football

J1 League

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Kawasaki Frontale (C)3421675727+3069Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2Sanfrecce Hiroshima34176114735+1257Qualification for the Champions League play-off round
3Kashima Antlers34168105039+1156
4Consadole Sapporo34151094848055
5Urawa Red Diamonds34149115139+1251Qualification for the Champions League group stage[a]
6FC Tokyo34148123934+550
7Cerezo Osaka341311103938+150
8Shimizu S-Pulse34147135648+849
9Gamba Osaka34146144146−548
10Vissel Kobe34129134552−745
11Vegalta Sendai34136154454−1045
12Yokohama F. Marinos34125175656041
13Shonan Bellmare341011133843−541
14Sagan Tosu341011132934−541
15Nagoya Grampus34125175259−741
16Júbilo Iwata (O)341011133548−1341Qualification for the Relegation play-off
17Kashiwa Reysol (R)34123194754−739Relegation to J2 League
18V-Varen Nagasaki (R)3486203959−2030
Source: Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

J2 League

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Matsumoto Yamaga (C, P)42211475434+2077Promotion to 2019 J1 League
2Oita Trinita (P)42237127651+2576
3Yokohama FC42211386344+1976Qualification for promotion play-offs[a]
4Machida Zelvia42211386244+1876
5Omiya Ardija42218136548+1771Qualification for promotion play-offs[a]
6Tokyo Verdy42191495641+1571
7Avispa Fukuoka421913105842+1670
8Renofa Yamaguchi421613136364−161
9Ventforet Kofu421611155646+1059
10Mito HollyHock42169174846+257
11Tokushima Vortis42168184842+656
12Montedio Yamagata421414144951−256
13Zweigen Kanazawa421413155248+455
14JEF United Chiba42167197272055
15Fagiano Okayama421411173943−453
16Albirex Niigata42158194856−853
17Tochigi SC421311183848−1050
18Ehime FC421212183452−1848
19Kyoto Sanga42127234058−1843
20FC Gifu42119224462−1842
21Roasso Kumamoto (R)4297265079−2934Relegation to 2019 J3 League[b]
22Kamatamare Sanuki (R)42710252872−4431
Source: 2018 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

J3 League

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion
1FC Ryukyu (C, P)3220667040+3066Promotion to 2019 J2 League[a]
2Kagoshima United (P)3216974635+1157
3Gainare Tottori3215896147+1453
4Azul Claro Numazu32141084029+1152
5Thespakusatsu Gunma32157103735+252
6Gamba Osaka U-2332138115343+1047
7Cerezo Osaka U-2332137124736+1146
8Blaublitz Akita32127133735+243
9SC Sagamihara32126144253−1142
10Nagano Parceiro321011113937+241
11Kataller Toyama32125154150−941
12Fukushima United32913103643−740
13Grulla Morioka32124164156−1540
14FC Tokyo U-2332106163845−736
15YSCC Yokohama32810144048−834
16Fujieda MYFC32104183248−1634
17Giravanz Kitakyushu3269172242−2027
Source: 2018 MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4th) head-to-head results; 5th) disciplinary points; 6th) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

Japan Football League

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Honda FC (C)3025417625+5179
2FC Osaka3018395434+2057
3Vanraure Hachinohe (P)3016864321+2256Promotion to 2019 J3 League[a]
4Sony Sendai30164106743+2452
5FC Imabari3014796332+3149
6Tokyo Musashino City3014794936+1349
7MIO Biwako Shiga30137103835+346
8Nara Club30126123332+142
9Verspah Oita30116132938−939
10ReinMeer Aomori30107133848−1037
11Veertien Mie3098134052−1235
12Tegevajaro Miyazaki3095164360−1732
13Maruyasu Okazaki3087153346−1331
14Honda Lock30611132952−2329
15Ryutsu Keizai Dragons3047192050−3019
16Cobaltore Onagawa (R)3045211865−4717Relegation to 2019 Regional Leagues
Source: JFL website (in Japanese)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Disciplinary points; 6) Draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Regional Leagues

Cup competitions

Emperor's Cup

Final

Urawa Red Diamonds1–0Vegalta Sendai
Ugajin 13'Report

J.League Cup

Final

Super Cup


Kawasaki Frontale2–3Cerezo Osaka
Kobayashi 51'
Ōkubo 90+2'
ReportYamaguchi 26'
Kiyotake 48'
Takagi 78'
Attendance: 41,803
Referee: K. Fukushima

AFC Champions League

Play-off round

East Region
Team 1
Score
Team 2

Group stage

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationJEOTJQKSWKIT
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors6501229+1315Advance to knockout stage6–33–23–0
2 Tianjin Quanjian64111511+4134–23–23–0
3 Kashiwa Reysol6114610−440–21–11–0
4 Kitchee6105114−1330–60–11–0
Source: AFC
Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationSSIULSMELKAW
1 Shanghai SIPG6321106+411Advance to knockout stage2–24–11–1
2 Ulsan Hyundai62311511+490–16–22–1
3 Melbourne Victory62221116−582–13–31–0
4 Kawasaki Frontale603369−330–12–22–2
Source: AFC
Group G

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationGZEBURCERJEJ
1 Guangzhou Evergrande6330126+612Advance to knockout stage1–13–15–3
2 Buriram United623176+191–12–00–2
3 Cerezo Osaka622268−280–02–22–1
4 Jeju United6105611−530–20–10–1
Source: AFC
Group H

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationSSBKASSYDSSH
1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings631287+110Advance to knockout stage1–21–41–1
2 Kashima Antlers623186+290–11–11–1
3 Sydney FC613278−160–20–20–0
4 Shanghai Shenhua605168−250–22–22–2
Source: AFC

Knockout stage

Round of 16
Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Kashima Antlers 4–3 Shanghai SIPG3–11–2
Quarter-finals
Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Kashima Antlers 5–0 Tianjin Quanjian2–03–0
Semi-finals
Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Kashima Antlers 6–5 Suwon Samsung Bluewings3–23–3
Final
Kashima Antlers 2–0 Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 35,022
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Persepolis 0–0 Kashima Antlers
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Kashima Antlers won 2–0 on aggregate.

Women's football

L.League

Nadeshiko League Div.1

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1NTV Beleza (C)181431386+3245Qualification to 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship
2INAC Kobe Leonessa1812424511+3440
3Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara189362924+530
4Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies189272220+229
5Albirex Niigata Ladies188372022−227
6JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies185851919023
7AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies186482227−522
8Vegalta Sendai Ladies1843111739−2215
9Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama1834111433−1913Division 1 promotion/relegation Series
10Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies (R)1822141742−258Relegated to Division 2
Source: [1]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Nadeshiko League Div.2

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Iga FC Kunoichi181422296+2344Promoted to Division 1
2Nippatsu Yokohama FC Seagulls189453224+831Division 1 promotion/relegation Series
3Chifure AS Elfen Saitama188642721+630
4Orca Kamogawa FC188462624+228
5AS Harima ALBION187472019+125
6Ehime FC Ladies185852121023
7Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita184952023−321
8Sfida Setagaya FC1853102028−818
9Bunnys Kyoto SC1835101127−1614Division 2 promotion/relegation Series
10Okayama Yunogo Belle1825111629−1311Relegated to Division 3
Source: [2]

Cup competitions

Empress's Cup

Final

Nadeshiko League Cup

Final

National team (Men)

Results

Friendlies

v  Mali
March 23 International Friendly Japan  1–1  Mali Liège, Belgium
13:20 (UTC+1)Nakajima 90+4'ReportDiaby 43' (pen.)Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Attendance: 250
Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium)
v  Paraguay
June 12 International Friendly Japan  4–2  Paraguay Innsbruck, Austria
15:05 (UTC+2)Inui 51', 63'
Santander 77' (o.g.)
Kagawa 90+1'
ReportRomero 32'
Ortiz 90'
Stadium: Tivoli-Neu
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Oliver Drachta (Austria)

Kirin Challenge Cup

v  Ukraine
March 27 Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 in Europe Japan  1–2  Ukraine Liège, Belgium
14:20 (UTC+2)Makino 41'ReportRakitskiy 21'
Karavayev 69'
Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Attendance: 2,529
Referee: Bart Vertenten (Belgium)
v  Costa Rica
September 11 Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 Japan  3–0  Costa Rica Suita, Japan
19:20 (UTC+9)Sasaki 16'
Minamino 66'
J. Ito 90+3'
ReportStadium: Panasonic Stadium Suita
Attendance: 33,891
Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
v  Panama
October 12 Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 Japan  3–0  Panama Niigata, Japan
19:35 (UTC+9)Minamino 42'
J. Ito 66'
Murillo 85' (o.g.)
ReportStadium: Denka Big Swan Stadium
Attendance: 38,322
Referee: Kim Dong-jin (South Korea)
v  Uruguay
October 16 Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 Japan  4–3  Uruguay Saitama, Japan
19:35 (UTC+9)Minamino 10', 66'
Osako 36'
Doan 59'
ReportPereiro 28'
Cavani 57'
Rodríguez 75'
Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002
Attendance: 57,239
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
v  Kyrgyzstan
November 20 Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 Japan  4–0  Kyrgyzstan Toyota, Japan
19:20 (UTC+9)Yamanaka 2'
Haraguchi 19'
Osako 72'
Nakajima 73'
ReportStadium: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

2018 FIFA World Cup

Group H

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Colombia320152+36Advance to knockout stage
2  Japan31114404[a]
3  Senegal31114404[a]
4  Poland310225−33
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:

Matches

v  Senegal
June 24 2018 FIFA World Cup: Group H Japan  2–2  Senegal Ekaterinburg, Russia
20:00 UTC+5Inui 34'
Honda 78'
ReportMané 11'
Wagué 71'
Stadium: Central Stadium
Attendance: 32,572
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

Knockout stage

Players statistics

Player-201703.2303.2705.3006.0806.1206.1906.2406.2807.0209.1110.1210.1611.1611.202018Total
Shinji Okazaki111(50)--O-OOOO------5(0)116(50)
Makoto Hasebe106(2)OOOO-OOOO-----8(0)114(2)
Yuto Nagatomo101(3)OOOO-OOOO--O--9(0)110(3)
Keisuke Honda91(36)OOOO-OO(1)-O-----7(1)98(37)
Shinji Kagawa89(29)--OOO(1)O(1)O-O-----6(2)95(31)
Eiji Kawashima81(0)-OOO-OOOO-----7(0)88(0)
Maya Yoshida80(10)--OO-OOOO--OOO9(0)89(10)
Hiroki Sakai41(0)---OOOOOO--OO(1)-8(1)49(1)
Hotaru Yamaguchi38(2)OOO-OO-OO-----7(0)45(2)
Gotoku Sakai36(0)OOOOO--O------6(0)42(0)
Genki Haraguchi29(6)-OOOOOO-O(1)-OOOO(1)11(2)40(8)
Tomoaki Makino28(3)OO(1)OO---O-OO--O8(1)36(4)
Yuya Osako25(7)O-OOOO(1)OOO-OO(1)OO(1)12(3)37(10)
Takashi Inui25(2)---OO(2)OO(1)OO(1)-----6(4)31(6)
Yoshinori Muto21(2)--OOO--O------4(0)25(2)
Takashi Usami19(3)OOOOO-OO------7(0)26(3)
Takuma Asano17(3)---------O----1(0)18(3)
Gaku Shibasaki14(3)-OOOOOOOO-OOOO12(0)26(3)
Yu Kobayashi11(2)OO-------O----3(0)14(2)
Yuya Kubo11(2)OO------------2(0)13(2)
Yosuke Ideguchi11(2)--O-----------1(0)12(2)
Wataru Endo11(0)----O----O-OO-4(0)15(0)
Gen Shoji10(1)O---OOO-O-----5(0)15(1)
Toshihiro Aoyama8(1)---------OOO--3(0)11(1)
Kengo Kawamata8(1)----------O---1(0)9(1)
Kenyu Sugimoto5(1)-O----------OO3(0)8(1)
Masaaki Higashiguchi4(0)----O----O-O--3(0)7(0)
Ryota Morioka4(0)O-------------1(0)5(0)
Junya Ito3(0)---------O(1)O(1)-OO4(2)7(2)
Shuichi Gonda3(0)----------O--O2(0)5(0)
Shintaro Kurumaya3(0)---------O----1(0)4(0)
Takumi Minamino2(0)---------O(1)O(1)O(2)OO5(4)7(4)
Ryota Oshima2(0)O-OO----------3(0)5(0)
Genta Miura2(0)---------O-O-O3(0)5(0)
Kosuke Nakamura2(0)O---O---------2(0)4(0)
Naomichi Ueda2(0)-O--O---------2(0)4(0)
Kento Misao1(0)OO-------OO--O5(0)6(0)
Sei Muroya1(0)---------OO--O3(0)4(0)
Shoya Nakajima0(0)O(1)O-------O-OOO(1)6(2)6(2)
Ritsu Doan0(0)---------OOO(1)OO5(1)5(1)
Sho Sasaki0(0)---------OO-O-3(0)3(0)
Koya Kitagawa0(0)----------O-OO3(0)3(0)
Hidemasa Morita0(0)---------O---O2(0)2(0)
Takehiro Tomiyasu0(0)----------O-O-2(0)2(0)
Ryosuke Yamanaka0(0)-------------O(1)1(1)1(1)
Tomoya Ugajin0(0)O-------------1(0)1(0)
Jun Amano0(0)---------O----1(0)1(0)
Daniel Schmidt0(0)------------O-1(0)1(0)

National team (Women)

Results

2018.02.28 Japan 2–6 Netherlands Portugal
Nakajima ?'
Iwabuchi ?'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
2018.03.02 Japan 2–1 Iceland Portugal
Sugasawa ?'
Utsugi ?'
? ?'
2018.03.07 Japan 0–2 Canada Portugal
? ?'
? ?'
2018.04.13 Japan 1–1 Australia Jordan
Sakaguchi 63'? ?'
2018.04.17 Japan 3–1 China Jordan
Iwabuchi 39'
Yokoyama 85', 88'
? ?'
2018.06.10 Japan 3–1 New Zealand New Zealand
Tanaka 17', 34', 44'? ?'
2018.07.26 Japan 2–4 United States United States
Tanaka 20'
Sakaguchi 76'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
? ?'
2018.07.29 Japan 1–2 Brazil United States
Masuya 90+3'? ?'
? ?'
2018.08.02 Japan 0–2 Australia United States
? ?'
? ?'
2018.08.21 Japan 7–0 Vietnam Indonesia
Sugasawa 5', 77'
Momiki 17'
Nakajima 38'
Tanaka 52', 88'
Masuya 64'
2018.08.28 Japan 2–1 South Korea Indonesia
Sugasawa 5'
86' (o.g.)
? ?'
2018.08.31 Japan 1–0 China Indonesia
Sugasawa 90'
2018.11.11 Japan 4–1 Norway Tottori
Yokoyama 16'
Iwabuchi 27', 55'
Momiki 63'
? ?'Stadium: Tottori Bank Bird Stadium

Players statistics

Player-201702.2803.0203.0503.0704.0104.0704.1004.1304.1704.2006.1007.2607.2908.0208.1608.2108.2508.2808.3111.112018Total
Mizuho Sakaguchi116(28)O-OOOOOO(1)-O----------8(1)124(29)
Rumi Utsugi103(5)-O(1)OO---OOOO--------O8(1)111(6)
Saki Kumagai90(0)-OOO-OOOOOO--------O10(0)100(0)
Aya Sameshima85(4)O-OOO(1)OOO-OOOOOOOOOOO18(1)103(5)
Nahomi Kawasumi82(20)----OOO-O-OOOO------8(0)90(20)
Saori Ariyoshi49(1)O-OOOO--O-OO-OO-OOOO14(0)63(1)
Emi Nakajima46(9)O(1)OOOO(1)O(1)-OOOOOOOOO(1)OOOO19(4)65(13)
Mana Iwabuchi43(11)O(1)OO(1)OO(1)O(1)OOO(1)O-OOOO(1)-O(1)OOO(2)18(9)61(20)
Yuika Sugasawa43(11)-O(1)-OO(1)OOO-OOOOOOO(2)OO(1)O(1)O17(6)60(17)
Kumi Yokoyama24(11)OOO--O(1)O-O(2)O(1)-OOO-----O(1)11(5)35(16)
Mina Tanaka20(6)OOOOO(1)O(1)O-O-O(3)O(1)OOOO(2)O---15(8)35(14)
Yu Nakasato16(0)----O-----O----O-O--4(0)20(0)
Rika Masuya15(3)OOO-O(1)O-OO--OO(1)O-O(1)O---12(3)27(6)
Hikaru Naomoto15(0)-O--OO--------------3(0)18(0)
Yuka Momiki14(3)------------O-O(1)O(1)OOOO(1)7(3)21(6)
Yui Hasegawa13(2)OOO(1)O--OOOOOOOOO-O(1)OOO17(2)30(4)
Hikari Takagi13(0)OO-OO(1)-----O----O----6(1)19(1)
Ayaka Yamashita11(0)-O-OOOOO-OOO---OOOOO14(0)25(0)
Sakiko Ikeda8(0)O-O-O---O---O-O-----6(0)14(0)
Ayumi Oya8(0)-O------------------1(0)9(0)
Rin Sumida7(0)OO-OO-O-O-OOOOOOOOO-15(0)22(0)
Shiori Miyake6(0)O-O-----O-OO-OOOOOO-11(0)17(0)
Nana Ichise6(0)O-OOOOOO-O---------O9(0)15(0)
Madoka Haji6(0)O-------------------1(0)7(0)
Risa Shimizu0(0)OOOOO-OOOOOOOOOOOOOO19(0)19(0)
Moeno Sakaguchi0(0)----------OO(1)OOOOOOOO10(1)10(1)
Narumi Miura0(0)----------OOOO-----O5(0)5(0)
Aimi Kunitake0(0)------------O--O-O--3(0)3(0)
Mayo Doko0(0)------------O-------1(0)1(0)
Chika Hirao0(0)-------------O------1(0)1(0)
Hina Sugita0(0)-------------O------1(0)1(0)
Fuka Nagano0(0)-------------------O1(0)1(0)
Hinata Miyazawa0(0)-------------------O1(0)1(0)

References