Football - Team Japan

Nickname
Nadeshiko Japan

General
Japan are the reigning Asian Games champions, having secured their second title in 2018. They are the only team to have won a medal at each edition of the Games since women's football was added to the programme. After winning silver at the first two tournaments in 1990 and 1994, they claimed bronze in 1998 and 2002. At the next three editions they faced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the final, losing on penalties in 2006, winning 1-0 in 2010, and losing 3-1 in 2014.

Japan began the 2018 Games with wins over Thailand [2-0] and Vietnam [7-0] in the group stage. They eliminated their DPR Korean rivals 2-1 in the quarterfinals, and required a late own goal to overcome the Republic of Korea 2-1 in the semifinals. The only goal of the final came in the 90th minute to give Japan victory over the People's Republic of China.

On the global stage, the team triumphed at the 2011 World Cup after defeating the United States of America in a final decided by penalties. Four years later, the US team gained revenge with a 5-2 win over Japan in the final. The Japanese side qualified for the 2023 World Cup having competed at all eight previous editions of the tournament. Their only Olympic medal is a silver from 2012, when they finished as runners-up to the United States of America. On home soil at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Sweden.

Japan won the Asian Cup in 2014 and 2018, beating Australia 1-0 in both finals. They were not able to retain their title in 2022 as they lost to the People's Republic of China on penalties in the semifinals.