The Japan national football team is one of the strongest football teams in Asia, although it has only gained this strength fairly recently and, outside Asia, is generally considered weaker than South Korea's national team, despite Japan's higher ranking. Japan's first World Cup appearance was in 1998, four years before they hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. 2002 World Cup co-host South Korea went on to secure fourth place, while Japan were dismissed from the tournament in Round 2. The side have had considerably more success in the Asian Cup, taking home the winner's trophy in three of the last four finals. Their principal continental rivals are China, Iran and South Korea.
World Cup record
Asian Cup record
Top goalscorers
Other famous players
External links
