The J.League announced the details of promotion and relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 season as follows.
Review of the ranking requirements for J.League Promotion
The clubs must be ranked 2nd or higher in the JFL annual standings
* Even if the JFL clubs ranked 2nd and higher does not have the J.League club license, the clubs ranked 3rd and below in the JFL annual standings cannot be moved up to be promoted to J3.
*Ranking requirements for promotion to the J.League through the 2022 season.
The annual standings in the JFL must be within the top 4 and must be in the top 2 clubs among the One Hundred Year Vision clubs belonging to the JFL.
Promotion and relegation between J3 and JFL
(Loss of J3 club membership and admission of JFL club to J.League)
(1) In case that only one JFL club has been approved for J.League admission by the Board of Directors,
① If the JFL club ranked top in the JFL annual standings,
- The J3 club ranked lowest in the annual standings is relegated to JFL, and the JFL club ranked top in the annual standings will be promoted to J3.
- J3/JFL Play-Offs will not be held.
② If the JFL club ranked 2nd in the annual standings,
- The J3 club ranked lowest in the annual standings and the JFL club in question will participate in the J3/JFL Play-Offs.
- The JFL club that wins the J3/JFL Play-Offs will be promoted to J3, and the J3 club that defeats loses its membership.
(2) In case that the two JFL clubs have been approved for J.League admission by the Board of Directors,
① The J3 club ranked lowest in the annual standings is relegated to JFL, and the JFL club ranked top in the annual standings will be promoted to J3.
② The J3 club ranked 19th in the annual standings and the JFL club ranked 2nd in the annual standings will participate in the J3/JFL Play-Offs. The JFL club that wins the J3/JFL Play-Offs will be promoted to J3, and the J3 club that defeats loses its membership.
Tournament: J3/JFL Play-Offs
Date:
● 1st leg. Saturday, December 9
● 2nd leg. Saturday, December 16
Tournament format:
Home and away (Two matches in total)
Venue:
● 1st leg. JFL club home stadium
● 2nd leg. J3 club home stadium
Match format:
<Match format and determination of winners>
In case a 90-minute match (two halves of 45 minutes each) is played and no winner is decided, the match ends in a tie.
Ranking is determined by the total number of points.
However, teams with the same number of points are ranked based on the following factors, in order of priority.
① Goal difference for two matches
② 30-minute extra time (two halves of 15 minutes each) at the end of the second round
③ Penalty shoot-out (Five players from each team. If the winner is not decided, the sixth and subsequent players will take turns to kick until the winner is decided.)
* Away goal rule will not be applied.
* This schedule is current as of January 6, 2023 and may be subject to change.
