June 2 – Japan’s J.League has agreed a climate action partnership with Tokyu Real Estate. The agreement centres on Tokyu’s renewable energy initiative, ReENE, and aligns with the league’s wider ambition to address climate change through football while supporting regional revitalisation efforts across Japan.
May 12 – Japan’s Meiji Yasuda J.League has set a new record for total attendance in a single day, recording more than 420,000 fans for the first time in the league’s history on May 3.
March 31 – Iran cemented their dominance in Asian beach soccer with a record-breaking fourth AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup title on Sunday, dismantling Oman 8-1 in a commanding final in Pattaya, Thailand. The victory not only solidified Iran’s status as the most successful team in the tournament’s history but also secured back-to-back championships for the reigning champions.
March 31 – Liverpool will tour Asia for their pre-season, with marquee fixtures in Hong Kong and Japan. The Reds have not qualified for the Club World Cup and aren’t in the Premier League’s Summer Series, both of which are in the US this summer.
November 28 – With five of the eight rounds of the league stage of the revamped AFC Champions League Elite completed, clear leaders are forcing their way to the top in the East and West regions, but the battle for the eight qualifying slots in each region is fierce.
November 21 – The AFC’s road to 2026 qualifying groups closed off 2024 with Japan, South Korea and Iran leading their six-team groups ahead of the final four qualifying fixtures to be played in the March and June international windows in 2026.
July 9 – A consortium led by Japan’s largest mobile phone carrier NTT Docomo is aiming to increase the permanent capacity at Tokyo’s National Stadium from 68,000 to 80,000 as the country reportedly eyes a shot at hosting the FIFA World Cup for a second time.
May 9 – VfB Stuttgart will play their pre-season in Japan as the latest German club to take part in the Bundesliga Japan Tour series jointly organised between the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and SKY PerfecTV! – the broadcast partner of the Bundesliga in Japan.
April 30 – Japan and Uzbekistan will contest the AFC U23 Asian Cup final at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar this Friday.
April 29 – In a repeat of the 2020 AFC U23 Asian Cup that saw Saudi Arabia crowned champions, Uzbekistan gained revenge with a 2-0 win that sets up a semi-final with tournament debutants Indonesia.
April 26 – Japan powered past Qatar in extra time of the U23 AFC Asian Cup, crushing the host’s senior and U23 Asian Cup double dream on home soil with a 4-2 win.
March 22 – North Korea’s upcoming home World Cup qualifier against Japan was unexpectedly called off on Friday just hours after the announcement that it would be moved to a neutral venue.
March 18 – DPR Korea came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024 final at the JAR Stadium.
March 14 – North Korea will face Japan in the final of the AFC Women’s U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024 after an impressive 3-0 win over Korea Republic.
February 29 – Germany claimed Europe’s last ticket to the Olympic women’s football tournament with a 2-0 victory against the Netherlands in the third-place playoff of the Nations League. In Asia, Australia and Japan clinched their spots for Paris.