World Cup Appearance
Highest Finish:
Second round (2002, 2010)
Star Players:Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki, Makoto Hasebe
Titles:None
FIFA Ranking Position:46
Coach:Alberto Zaccheroni (Ita/since 30/08/2010)
Population: 126.4 million
Area: 377,873 sq km
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Yen
Federation: Japan Football Association, founded in 1921, affiliated to FIFA in 1929
Registered players: 1,045,150
Kit colours: Blue jersey, white shorts, blue socks
Team nickname: Blue Samurai
World Cup record: Second round (2002, 2010), first round (1998, 2006)
Asian Nations Cup: winner (1992, 2002, 2004, 2011), 4th place (2007)
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: 3rd round Asia zone 2nd in group C with 10pts behind Uzbekistan (16), ahead of North Korea (7) and Tadjikistan (1), 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 14 goals for and 3 against; 4th round Asia zone: won group B with 17pts, ahead of Australia (13), Jordan (10), Oman (9) and Iraq (5), 5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 16 goals for and 5 against.
Top clubs: Kashima Antlers, Yokohama Marinos, Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Population: 126.4 million
Area: 377,873 sq km
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Yen
Federation: Japan Football Association, founded in 1921, affiliated to FIFA in 1929
Registered players: 1,045,150
Kit colours: Blue jersey, white shorts, blue socks
Team nickname: Blue Samurai
World Cup record: Second round (2002, 2010), first round (1998, 2006)
Asian Nations Cup: winner (1992, 2002, 2004, 2011), 4th place (2007)
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: 3rd round Asia zone 2nd in group C with 10pts behind Uzbekistan (16), ahead of North Korea (7) and Tadjikistan (1), 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 14 goals for and 3 against; 4th round Asia zone: won group B with 17pts, ahead of Australia (13), Jordan (10), Oman (9) and Iraq (5), 5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 16 goals for and 5 against.
Top clubs: Kashima Antlers, Yokohama Marinos, Nagoya Grampus Eight.