2018 in Japanese football

Teams relegated from J1 League

• Ventforet Kofu
• Albirex Niigata
• Omiya Ardija

Teams promoted to J1 League

• Shonan Bellmare
• V-Varen Nagasaki
• Nagoya Grampus

Teams relegated from J2 League

• Thespakusatsu Gunma

Teams promoted to J2 League

• Tochigi SC

Teams relegated from J3 League

: No relegation to the Japan Football League

Teams promoted to J3 League

• No promotion from the Japan Football League

Teams promoted to Japan Football League

• Cobaltore Onagawa
• Tegevajaro Miyazaki

{{main|2018 J1 League}}

{{2018 J1 League table}}

{{main|2018 J2 League}}

{{2018 J2 League table}}

{{main|2018 J3 League}}

{{2018 J3 League table}}

{{main|2018 Japan Football League}}

{{2018 Japan Football League table}}

{{main|2018 Japanese Regional Leagues}}

{{Main|2018 Emperor's Cup}}

Final

{{Main|2018 Emperor's Cup Final}}

{{Football box

| date = 9 December 2018

| event =

| team1 = Urawa Red Diamonds

| team2 = Vegalta Sendai

| time = 15:00 JST

| round =

| score1 = 1

| score2 = 0

| goals1 = Ugajin {{goal|13}}

| report = http://www.jfa.jp/match/emperorscup_2018/match_page/m87.html

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Saitama Stadium 2002

| location = Saitama

| attendance =

| referee =

| aet =

}}

{{Main|2018 J.League Cup}}

Final

{{Main|2018 J.League Cup Final}}

{{Football box

| date = 27 October 2018

| event =

| team1 = Shonan Bellmare

| team2 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| time =

| round =

| score1 = 1

| score2 = 0

| goals1 = Sugioka {{goal|36}}

| report = https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFMS02/?match_card_id=21446

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Saitama Stadium 2002

| location = Saitama

| attendance = 44,242

| referee =

| aet =

}}

{{Main|2018 Japanese Super Cup}}

{{Football box

| date = 10 February 2018

| event =

| team1 = Kawasaki Frontale

| team2 = Cerezo Osaka

| time = 13:35 JST

| round =

| score1 = 2

| score2 = 3

| goals1 = Kobayashi {{goal|51}}
Ōkubo {{goal|90+2}}

| report = https://www.jleague.jp/match/fxsc/2018/021001/live/

| goals2 = Yamaguchi {{goal|26}}
Kiyotake {{goal|48}}
Takagi {{goal|78}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Saitama Stadium 2002

| location = Saitama

| attendance = 41,803

| referee = K. Fukushima

| aet =

}}

{{Main|2018 AFC Champions League}}

{{Main|2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs}}

{{Main|2018 AFC Champions League group stage}}

{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|show_matches=y|transcludesection=Group E|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|showteam=KSW}}

{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|show_matches=y|transcludesection=Group F|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|showteam=KAW}}

{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|show_matches=y|transcludesection=Group G|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|showteam=CER}}

{{:2018 AFC Champions League group stage|show_matches=y|transcludesection=Group H|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules|showteam=KAS}}

{{Main|2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage}}

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashima Antlers|JPN|4–3|Shanghai SIPG|CHN|3–1|1–2}}

{{end}}

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashima Antlers|JPN|5–0|Tianjin Quanjian|CHN|2–0|3–0}}

{{end}}

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashima Antlers|JPN|6–5|Suwon Samsung Bluewings|KOR|3–2|3–3}}

{{end}}

{{main|2018 AFC Champions League Final}}

{{:2018 AFC Champions League Final}}

Kashima Antlers won 2–0 on aggregate.

{{Main|2018 L.League}}

{{Main|2018 Nadeshiko League#Nadeshiko League Division 1}}

{{:2018 Nadeshiko League|transcludesection=Division 1}}

{{Main|2018 Nadeshiko League#Nadeshiko League Division 2}}

{{:2018 Nadeshiko League|transcludesection=Division 2}}

{{Main|2018 Empress's Cup}}

Final

{{Main|2018 Empress's Cup Final}}

{{Football box

| date = 1 January 2019

| event =

| team1 = Nippon TV Beleza

| team2 = INAC Kobe Leonessa

| time = 14:45

| round =

| score1 = 4

| score2 = 2

| goals1 = Ueki {{goal|54}}
Momiki {{goal|71||94}}
Tanaka {{goal|104}}

| report =

| goals2 = Masuya {{goal|42}}
Kyokawa {{goal|77}}

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Panasonic Stadium Suita

| location = Suita

| attendance =

| referee =

| aet = yes

}}

{{Main|2018 Nadeshiko League Cup}}

Final

{{Main|2018 Nadeshiko League Cup Final}}

{{Football box

| date = 21 July 2018

| event =

| team1 = Nippon TV Beleza

| team2 = INAC Kobe Leonessa

| time =

| round =

| score1 = 1

| score2 = 0

| goals1 = Tanaka {{goal|85}}

| report = http://www.nadeshikoleague.jp/2018/nl1_final/match_page.html?mno=1

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore =

| penalties1 =

| penalties2 =

| stadium = Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium

| location = Tokyo

| attendance = 1,553

| referee =

| aet =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = International Friendly

|date = March 23

|time = 13:20 (UTC+1)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 1–1

|team2 = {{fb|MLI}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/23/world/friendlies/japan/mali/2742394/

|goals1 = Nakajima {{goal|90+4}}

|goals2 = Diaby {{goal|43|pen.}}

|location = {{flagicon|BEL}} Liège, Belgium

|stadium = Stade Maurice Dufrasne

|attendance = 250

|referee = Erik Lambrechts (Belgium)

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = International Friendly

|date = June 8

|time = 19:00 (UTC+2)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|SWI}}

|score = 2–0

|team2 = {{fb|JPN}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/06/08/world/friendlies/switzerland/japan/2723514/

|goals1 = Rodriguez {{goal|42|pen.}}
Seferovic {{goal|82}}

|goals2 =

|location = {{flagicon|SWI}} Lugano, Switzerland

|stadium = Cornaredo Stadium

|attendance =

|referee = Amaury Delerue (France)

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = International Friendly

|date = June 12

|time = 15:05 (UTC+2)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 4–2

|team2 = {{fb|PAR}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/06/12/world/friendlies/japan/paraguay/2735512/

|goals1 = Inui {{goal|51||63}}
Santander {{goal|77|o.g.}}
Kagawa {{goal|90+1}}

|goals2 = Romero {{goal|32}}
Ortiz {{goal|90}}

|location = {{flagicon|AUT}} Innsbruck, Austria

|stadium = Tivoli-Neu

|attendance = 1,200

|referee = Oliver Drachta (Austria)

|result = W

}}

Kirin Challenge Cup

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 in Europe

|date = March 27

|time = 14:20 (UTC+2)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 1–2

|team2 = {{fb|UKR}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/27/world/friendlies/japan/ukraine/2754109/

|goals1 = Makino {{goal|41}}

|goals2 = Rakitskiy {{goal|21}}
Karavayev {{goal|69}}

|location = {{flagicon|BEL}} Liège, Belgium

|stadium = Stade Maurice Dufrasne

|attendance = 2,529

|referee = Bart Vertenten (Belgium)

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = May 30

|time = 19:25 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 0–2

|team2 = {{fb|GHA}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/05/30/world/friendlies/japan/ghana/2761244/

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Partey {{goal|9}}
Boateng {{goal|51|pen.}}

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Yokohama, Japan

|stadium = Nissan Stadium (Yokohama)

|attendance = 64,520

|referee = Chris Beath (Australia)

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round=Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = September 7

|time=

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = Cancelled

|team2 = {{fb|CHI}}

|report = http://www.jfa.jp/samuraiblue/20180907/news/00018712/

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Sapporo, Japan

|stadium = Sapporo Dome

|attendance =

|referee =

|result = V

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = September 11

|time = 19:20 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 3–0

|team2 = {{fb|CRC}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/11/world/friendlies/japan/costa-rica/2793181/

|goals1 = Sasaki {{goal|16}}
Minamino {{goal|66}}
J. Ito {{goal|90+3}}

|goals2 =

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Suita, Japan

|stadium = Panasonic Stadium Suita

|attendance = 33,891

|referee = Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = October 12

|time = 19:35 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 3–0

|team2 = {{fb|PAN}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/10/12/world/friendlies/japan/panama/2789845/

|goals1 = Minamino {{goal|42}}
J. Ito {{goal|66}}
Murillo {{goal|85|o.g.}}

|goals2 =

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Niigata, Japan

|stadium = Denka Big Swan Stadium

|attendance = 38,322

|referee = Kim Dong-jin (South Korea)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = October 16

|time = 19:35 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 4–3

|team2 = {{fb|URU}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/10/16/world/friendlies/japan/uruguay/2908737/

|goals1 = Minamino {{goal|10||66}}
Osako {{goal|36}}
Doan {{goal|59}}

|goals2 = Pereiro {{goal|28}}
Cavani {{goal|57}}
Rodríguez {{goal|75}}

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Saitama, Japan

|stadium = Saitama Stadium 2002

|attendance = 57,239

|referee = Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = November 16

|time = 19:30 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 1–1

|team2 = {{fb|VEN}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/11/16/world/friendlies/japan/venezuela/2925838/

|goals1 = Sakai {{goal|40}}

|goals2 = Rincón {{goal|81|pen.}}

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Ōita, Japan

|stadium = Ōita Bank Dome

|attendance =

|referee = Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|round = Kirin Challenge Cup 2018

|date = November 20

|time = 19:20 (UTC+9)

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 4–0

|team2 = {{fb|KGZ}}

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/11/20/world/friendlies/japan/kyrgyzstan/2924032/

|goals1 = Yamanaka {{goal|2}}
Haraguchi {{goal|19}}
Osako {{goal|72}}
Nakajima {{goal|73}}

|goals2 =

|location = {{flagicon|JPN}} Toyota, Japan

|stadium = Toyota Stadium

|attendance =

|referee = Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

|result = W

}}

{{Main|2018 FIFA World Cup}}

{{Main|2018 FIFA World Cup Group H}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=standings|showteam=JPN}}

Matches

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = June 19

|time = {{UTZ|15:00|3}}

|round = 2018 FIFA World Cup: Group H

|team1 = {{fb-rt|COL}}

|score = 1–2

|report = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331550/#match-liveblog

|team2 = {{fb|JPN}}

|goals1 = Quintero {{goal|39}}

|goals2 = Kagawa {{goal|6|pen.}}
Osako {{goal|73}}

|stadium = Mordovia Arena

|location = {{flagicon|RUS}} Saransk, Russia

|attendance = 40,842

|referee = Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

|result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = June 24

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|5}}

|round = 2018 FIFA World Cup: Group H

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 2–2

|report = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331505/#match-liveblog

|team2 = {{fb|SEN}}

|goals1 = Inui {{goal|34}}
Honda {{goal|78}}

|goals2 = Mané {{goal|11}}
Wagué {{goal|71}}

|stadium = Central Stadium

|location = {{flagicon|RUS}} Ekaterinburg, Russia

|attendance = 32,572

|referee = Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = June 28

|time = {{UTZ|17:00|3}}

|round = 2018 FIFA World Cup: Group H

|team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score = 0–1

|report = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331507/#match-liveblog

|team2 = {{fb|POL}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Bednarek {{goal|59}}

|stadium = Volgograd Arena

|location = {{flagicon|RUS}} Volgograd, Russia

|attendance = 42,189

|referee = Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)

|result = L

}}

{{Main|2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = July 2

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|3}}

|round = 2018 FIFA World Cup: Round of 16

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BEL}}

|score = 3–2

|report = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331551/#match-liveblog

|team2 = {{fb|JPN}}

|goals1 = Vertonghen {{goal|69}}
Fellaini {{goal|74}}
Chadli {{goal|90+4}}

|goals2 = Haraguchi {{goal|48}}
Inui {{goal|52}}

|stadium = Rostov Arena

|location = {{flagicon|RUS}} Rostov-on-Don, Russia

|attendance = 41,466

|referee = Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

|result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.02.28

|team1=Japan

|score=2–6

|report=

|team2=Netherlands

|goals1=Nakajima {{goal|?|}}
Iwabuchi {{goal|?|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Portugal

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.03.02

|team1=Japan

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=Iceland

|goals1=Sugasawa {{goal|?|}}
Utsugi {{goal|?|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Portugal

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.03.05

|team1=Japan

|score=2–0

|report=

|team2=Denmark

|goals1=Hasegawa {{goal|?|}}
Iwabuchi {{goal|?|}}

|goals2=

|location=Portugal

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.03.07

|team1=Japan

|score=0–2

|report=

|team2=Canada

|goals1=

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Portugal

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.01

|team1=Japan

|score=7–1

|report=

|team2=Ghana

|goals1=Tanaka {{goal|14|}}
Iwabuchi {{goal|29|}}
Masuya {{goal|43|}}
Nakajima {{goal|48|}}
Takagi {{goal|74|}}
Sugasawa {{goal|79|}}
Sameshima {{goal|83|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Nagasaki

|stadium=Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.07

|team1=Japan

|score=4–0

|report=

|team2=Vietnam

|goals1=Yokoyama {{goal|3|}}
Nakajima {{goal|17|}}
Iwabuchi {{goal|53|}}
Tanaka {{goal|66|}}

|goals2=

|location=Jordan

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.10

|team1=Japan

|score=0–0

|report=

|team2=South Korea

|goals1=

|goals2=

|location=Jordan

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.13

|team1=Japan

|score=1–1

|report=

|team2=Australia

|goals1=Sakaguchi {{goal|63|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Jordan

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.17

|team1=Japan

|score=3–1

|report=

|team2=China

|goals1=Iwabuchi {{goal|39|}}
Yokoyama {{goal|85||88|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Jordan

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.04.20

|team1=Japan

|score=1–0

|report=

|team2=Australia

|goals1=Yokoyama {{goal|84|}}

|goals2=

|location=Jordan

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.06.10

|team1=Japan

|score=3–1

|report=

|team2=New Zealand

|goals1=Tanaka {{goal|17||34||44|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=New Zealand

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.07.26

|team1=Japan

|score=2–4

|report=

|team2=United States

|goals1=Tanaka {{goal|20|}}
Sakaguchi {{goal|76|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}

|location=United States

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.07.29

|team1=Japan

|score=1–2

|report=

|team2=Brazil

|goals1=Masuya {{goal|90+3|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}

|location=United States

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.02

|team1=Japan

|score=0–2

|report=

|team2=Australia

|goals1=

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}
? {{goal|?|}}

|location=United States

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.16

|team1=Japan

|score=2–0

|report=

|team2=Thailand

|goals1=Iwabuchi {{goal|33|}}
Momiki {{goal|85|}}

|goals2=

|location=Indonesia

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.21

|team1=Japan

|score=7–0

|report=

|team2=Vietnam

|goals1=Sugasawa {{goal|5||77|}}
Momiki {{goal|17|}}
Nakajima {{goal|38|}}
Tanaka {{goal|52||88|}}
Masuya {{goal|64|}}

|goals2=

|location=Indonesia

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.25

|team1=Japan

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=North Korea

|goals1=Iwabuchi {{goal|40|}}
Hasegawa {{goal|62|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Indonesia

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.28

|team1=Japan

|score=2–1

|report=

|team2=South Korea

|goals1=Sugasawa {{goal|5|}}
{{goal|86|o.g.}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Indonesia

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.08.31

|team1=Japan

|score=1–0

|report=

|team2=China

|goals1=Sugasawa {{goal|90|}}

|goals2=

|location=Indonesia

|stadium=

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=2018.11.11

|team1=Japan

|score=4–1

|report=

|team2=Norway

|goals1=Yokoyama {{goal|16|}}
Iwabuchi {{goal|27||55|}}
Momiki {{goal|63|}}

|goals2=? {{goal|?|}}

|location=Tottori

|stadium=Tottori Bank Bird Stadium

|attendance=

|result=W

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Japanese football seasons}}

{{2018 in Japanese football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 in Japanese Football}}

Category:Seasons in Japanese football