Japan national football team

FIFA rankingCurrent 17 1 (20 July 2026)Highest9 (February–March 1998)Lowest66 (December 1992)First internationalJapan 0–5 China
(Tokyo, Japan; 9 May 1917)Biggest winJapan15–0Philippines
(Tokyo; 27 September 1967)Biggest defeatJapan2–15Philippines
(Tokyo; 10 May 1917)World CupAppearances8 (first in 1998)Best resultRound of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022)Asian CupAppearances11 (first in 1988)Best resultChampions (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)Copa América (as guest)Appearances2 (first in 1999)Best resultGroup stage (1999, 2019)Afro-Asian Cup of NationsAppearances2 (first in 1993)Best resultChampions (1993, 2007)Confederations CupAppearances5 (first in 1995)Best resultRunners-up (2001)Websitejfa.jp/samuraiblue

The Japan national football team (Japanese: サッカー日本代表, Hepburn: Sakkā Nippon Daihyō), also known by the nickname Samurai Blue (Japanese: サムライ・ブルー, Hepburn: Samurai Burū), represents Japan in men's international football. It is controlled by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for football in Japan.

Prior to the late 1980s, Japan's national football team was largely amateur, with the sport less popular domestically than baseball or sumo. Since the early 1990s, following the full professionalization of the sport, Japan has emerged as one of Asia's leading teams. The national team has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1998, advancing to the knockout stage in 2002, 2010, 2018, 2022 and 2026 being the most knockout appearances of any team in Asia. Since their first World Cup appearance in 1998, Japan has not received a single red card, which is a world record. Japan has also won a record four Asian Cup titles, in 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011. In addition, the team finished as runners-up in both the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2019 Asian Cup. Japan is one of only three teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to have reached the final of a senior FIFA men's competition, alongside Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Japan's progression in a short period has served as an inspiration and example of how to develop football. Their main rivals are South Korea and Australia; they also developed rivalries against Iran and Saudi Arabia. Japan was the first team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited in the 1999, 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions of the tournament, although they only played in the 1999 and 2019 events. As of August 2026, Japan is currently at the 17th place in the FIFA world ranking, being the highest ranked Asian side since December 2022.