Football - Team Japan

Nickname
Samurai Blue

General
Japan have competed at every Asian Games since the first men's football tournament in 1951. The team won their first gold medal at the Games in 2010 after defeating the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in the final. Four years later in Incheon they were unable to retain their title, exiting the tournament at the quarterfinal stage following a 1-0 loss to hosts and eventual champions the Republic of Korea.

At the 2018 Games in Indonesia, the Japanese team recorded two wins and one loss in the group stage to progress to the knockout rounds. They then defeated Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to set up a gold medal match against defending champions the Republic of Korea. The final was goalless after 90 minutes, but the Korean team emerged 2-1 victors following a thrilling extra-time period. Japan also claimed silver at the 2002 Games, losing the final 2-1 to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and took bronze medals in 1951 and 1966.

The team won the 2016 AFC U23 Championship title with a 3-2 defeat of the Republic of Korea in the final in Qatar. At the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup they produced their best performance at the tournament since 2016, finishing third after a semifinal defeat to hosts Uzbekistan and a third place match victory over Australia.

Japan's only medal at the Olympic Games is a bronze from the 1968 Games in Mexico City, where they beat hosts Mexico 2-0 in the third place play-off. As hosts of the 2020 Games, they gave themselves the opportunity to achieve another podium finish but lost 3-1 to Mexico in the bronze medal match.