Japan national association football team
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| Nickname(s) |
サムライ・ブルー (Samurai Blue) |
|---|---|
| Association |
日本サッカー協会 (Japan Football Association) |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Sub-confederation | EAFF (East Asia) |
| Head coach | Vahid Halilhodžić |
| Captain | Makoto Hasebe |
| Most caps | Yasuhito Endō (152) |
| Top scorer | Kunishige Kamamoto (80) |
| FIFA code | JPN |
| FIFA ranking | |
| Current | 44  4 (16 October 2017)
|
| Highest | 9 (February 1998) |
| Lowest | 62 (December 1992) |
| Elo ranking | |
| Current | 26 (10 October 2017) |
| Highest | 8 (August 2001, March 2002) |
| Lowest | 60 (September 1962) |
| First international | |
 Japan 0–5 China  (Tokyo; 9 May 1917) |
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| Biggest win | |
Japan 15–0 Philippines  (Tokyo; 27 September 1967) |
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| Biggest defeat | |
Japan 2–15 Philippines  (Tokyo; 10 May 1917) |
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| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1998) |
| Best result | Round of 16, 2002 and 2010 |
| Asian Cup | |
| Appearances | 8 (first in 1988) |
| Best result | Champions, 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011 |
| Copa América | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 1999) |
| Best result | Group Stage, 1999 |
| Confederations Cup | |
| Appearances | 5 (first in 1995) |
| Best result | Runners-up, 2001 |
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Medal record
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The Japan national football team (サッカー日本代表 Sakkā Nippon Daihyō) represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body for association football in Japan. The current head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.
Japan is one of the most successful teams in Asia, having qualified for the last six consecutive FIFA World Cups with second round advancements in 2002 and 2010, and having won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times, in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. The team has also finished second in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. Their principal continental rivals are South Korea and most recently, Australia.
Japan is the only team from outside the Americas to participate in the Copa América, having been invited in 1999 and 2011. Although they initially accepted the invitation for the 2011 tournament, the JFA later withdrew following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
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