Japan jump back into 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying this week and once again manager Hajime Moriyasu has chosen a squad made up entirely of players who play in the Meiji Yasuda J.League or began their careers in the domestic competition.The Samurai Blue will play in Myanmar on June 6 before taking on Syria five days later at Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s brand new …

Léo Ceará is still the Meiji Yasuda J1 League’s leading scorer after the Cerezo Osaka man found the back of the next again in Matchweek 17, taking him up to 13 goals on the year.The Brazilian finished off a gorgeous move by Cerezo with a simple finish to give him 11 tallies in his last 12 matches. Ryo Germain, who has paced the league in goals for mos…

The Meiji Yasuda J1 League gave us a treat in Matchweek 17, with some phenomenal games and a pair of results that have two teams tied on points atop the table. Let’s dive into all the action.FC Machida Zelvia 1, Albirex Niigata 3It was a shock at the top of the table in Machida, as Albirex scored three times by the 52nd minute to deliver their fans an impre…

Kashima Antlers and Yokohama F·Marinos are J.League originals. Not only were they founding members of the league, but 31 years later they’ve never been relegated from the top flight and they’ve won more titles than any other club, with Kashima’s eight followed by F·Marinos’ five.Whenever two titans like Antlers and the Tricolor clash, it is must-see TV, but…

Cerezo Osaka have been one of the league’s most exciting teams this season thanks to J1’s top scorer Léo Ceará and on Saturday at 19:00 JST they take those thrills to Kyoto for a clash with Sanga that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.Léo Ceará has been so good this season that being held goalless for a single game, as he wa…

FC Machida Zelvia are still top of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table, but there’s a new second place team as Kashima Antlers moved up. Let’s check in on that, along with all the rest of the Matchweek 16 action.Urawa Reds 1, FC Machida Zelvia 2Zelvia left it late, but Hokuto Shimoda buried a stoppage-time penalty to deliver them full points in Saitama and kee…

Yokohama F·Marinos' AFC Champions League dreams ended in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, falling agonizingly short of taking home the continental crown after losing the second leg of the final 5-1 and 6-3 on aggregate.The Tricolor entered the tournament’s ultimate match with a 2-1 advantage after their win in Yokohama, but knew they had a big cha…

FC Tokyo are one of Japan's fiercest attacking teams, and they’ll send that firepower at surging Gamba Osaka in a must-watch match on Sunday, which will be live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.No team in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League has scored more goals than the capital club, who have amassed 26 with an attack that has pierced defenses e…

Kashima Antlers’ push for a record ninth title continues on Saturday at 14:00 JST when they take on Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in a match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.Just three points off the top of the table in third, Kashima are very much in the title race, but tightening up the defense will be key to making up …

Yokohama F·Marinos have won just about every title on offer other than the AFC Champions League and they have a chance to add it to the trophy case on Saturday when the Tricolor take a 2-1 lead to the United Arab Emirates for the second leg of the tournament final against Al Ain.The Tricolor did their job in the first leg, winning in Yokohama. The goals by …

The upsets kept on coming in Round 3 of the J.League YBC Levain Cup as J3’s Kataller Toyama and J2’s V-Varen Nagasaki took down top flight clubs in a night of cup action to remember.Kataller won their first two rounds over second division sides, but their Round 3 contest was a whole other challenge. They were up against Vissel Kobe, J1’s reigning champions …

Léo Ceará is the new top scorer in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League after the Brazilian scored his ninth goal in as many matches for his 12th on the season.The Cerezo Osaka man scored the Sakura’s opening goal to lead his team to a 3-0 win over Avispa Fukuoka. Léo Ceará has arguably been the league's most prolific attacking player for the better part o…

The fight for the top of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League has been wild, with first place constantly trading hands and that did not stop in Matchweek 15 as FC Machida Zelvia returned to the summit. Let’s see how they did it and everything else from a terrific weekend of matches.FC Machida Zelvia 5, Tokyo Verdy 0Shota Fujio led the way with a brace as Zelvia start…

Urawa Reds have won the Emperor’s Cup, Super Cup and AFC Champions League in the last three years. Now, they’re hoping to add the Meiji Yasuda J1 League title to their haul and that continues when they meet up with Júbilo Iwata on Sunday at 14:00 JST in a match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.The Reds currently sit in…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo took a big step in their quest to spend another season in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League on Wednesday and now they’ll hope to move closer to safety when they take on Kashiwa Reysol on Sunday at 16:00 JST in a match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world.Consadole have struggled this season, but Yuya As…

J.League Day gave us a terrific slate of matches, but no changes at the top of the table as all of the teams in the title fight picked up wins. Let’s check in on their victories and all the other action from Matchweek 14.Vissel Kobe 1, Avispa Fukuoka 0Taisei Miyashiro finished a beautiful volley to score for the third match in a row as Vissel picked up a wi…

FC Machida Zelvia and Cerezo Osaka both have designs on winning the Meiji Yasuda J1 League title, putting huge stakes on Wednesday’s clash when the two clubs meet at 19:00 JST in a match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world. Zelvia sit second in the table, separated from the top only on goal difference. A few weeks a…

Urawa Reds are in good form with two wins from their last two and they aim to keep that going when they meet Kyoto Sanga on Wednesday at 19:30 JST in a match that will be shown live on JLeague.co and broadcasters around the world. The Urawa attack has been marvelous of late, with Thiago Santana leading the way. The new signing has scored six goals in …

Ryo Germain has been phenomenal this season, racking up goals and climbing to the top of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League scoring chart. It has now also earned him April’s Konami Monthly MVP award as recognition for his outstanding play.Germain scored five goals in April and they were all crucial to Júbilo Iwata picking up results as they climbed out of the drop …

Thiago Santana’s spectacular half-field strike was an audacious and memorable tally, and it has been recognized as J1 Goal of the Month for April.The Brazilian picked up a ball 30 yards from his own goal, shielded a defender and turned up field. He dribbled on his own, skipping away from a tackle before reaching the half-way line, where he spotted the FC To…