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2026–27 Japan Football League

Japan Football League for 2026–27 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026–27 Japan Football League (Japanese: 第28回 日本フットボールリーグ (2026-2027) [第28回 JFL], Hepburn: Dai Nijūhachikai Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu [Dai Nijūhachikai JFL]) is the 28th season of JFL, since its establishment in 1999. This is also the thirteenth season of the league having a fourth-tier status in Japanese football since 2014.

Season2026–27
Dates29 August 2026 – 23 May 2027[1]
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Japan Football League
Season2026–27
Dates29 August 2026 – 23 May 2027[1]
← 2025
2027–28 →
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Overview

General

This marked the first Japan Football League season scheduled with a summer-to-spring format with 16 teams competing in the league – the thirteen teams from the previous season, one team relegated from the J3 League and two teams promoted from Regional Leagues.

The league's champion team earns automatic promotion to the J3 League, while the 2nd place team competes in a promotion/relegation play-off against the 19th-placed team from the J3 League. Meanwhile, the relegation playoff between the 15th-placed team in the JFL and the second-placed team in the JRFCL was abolished and starting from this season the bottom two teams (15th and 16th) are relegated directly to the fifth division depending on the region of origin of the team.

Teams promoted from Japanese Regional Leagues

J-Lease became the first team to be promoted on 24 November 2025 after defeating Tokyo United in the final round and at the same time as Veroskronos Tsuno lost to Vonds Ichihara where both matches ended with a score of 1-0.

Vonds Ichihara became the second team to be promoted on 30 November 2025, after defeating Atletico Suzuka in the JFL/Japanese Regional Leagues playoffs.[2] Both promoted teams compete in the fourth division for the first time in their respective histories.

Teams relegated to Japanese Regional Leagues

Asuka became the first team to be relegated after a draw against Maruyasu Okazaki on 15 November 2025. Asuka was relegated to Kansai Soccer League Division 1 after spending one season in the fourth division.

Atletico Suzuka became the second team to be relegated after losing to Vonds Ichihara in the JFL/Japanese Regional Leagues playoffs on 30 November 2025. Atletico Suzuka was relegated to the Tōkai Soccer League Division 1 after spending six seasons in the fourth division.

Result from playoff

Reilac Shiga became the only team to be promoted to the J3 League because Honda, who were last season's champions and does not intend to gain promotion to the J. League. Reilac Shiga ended their 12-season stay in the fourth division by defeating Azul Claro Numazu in the J3/JFL playoffs with a 4-3 aggregate score on 14 December 2025. For Azul Claro Numazu, this result returned them to the fourth division after spending eight seasons in the third division.[3]

Teams

Teams changes

The following teams changed division since the 2025 season.

More information Relegated from J3 League, Promoted from Regional Leagues ...
To JFL
Decrease Relegated from J3 League
Increase Promoted from Regional Leagues
From JFL
Increase Promoted to J3 League
Decrease Relegated to Regional Leagues
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Locations and stadiums

Locations of teams in the 2026–27 Japan Football League.
More information Team, Location ...
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2025 season Notes1
Azul Claro Numazu↓ Numazu Ashitaka Park Stadium 10,000 20th in J3 J2 license holders
Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa Urayasu Daiichi Cutter Field 2,100 3rd in JFL
Criacao Shinjuku2 Shinjuku Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka 7,258 12th in JFL J3 license holders
Honda Hamamatsu Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium 2,506 1st in JFL
Iwate Grulla Morioka Morioka Iwagin Stadium 9,892 9th in JFL J1 license holders
J-Lease↑ Ōita Oita Athletic Stadium 15,943 1st in JRFCL
Maruyasu Okazaki Okazaki Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium 5,000 11th in JFL
Minebea Mitsumi Miyazaki Hinata Stadium 20,000 10th in JFL
Okinawa Okinawa3 Okinawa Athletic Park Stadium 12,270 8th in JFL
ReinMeer Aomori Aomori Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium 20,809 5th in JFL J3 license holders
Tiamo Hirakata Hirakata Tamayura Athletic Stadium 2,500 4th in JFL
Veertien Mie Tōin4 La Pita Toin Stadium 5,077 7th in JFL J3 license holders
Verspah Oita Ōita5 Resonac Soccer/Rugby Field 4,700 6th in JFL J3 license holders
Vonds Ichihara2↑ Ichihara ZA Oripri Stadium 14,051 2nd in JRFCL
Yokogawa Musashino Musashino Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium 5,188 14th in JFL
YSCC Yokohama Yokohama NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium 15,454 13th in JFL J2 license holders
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↓ Relegated from the J3 League
↑ Promoted from the Japanese Regional Leagues
Notes
  1. ^ The teams which possess (or are applicants of) promotion-enabling licenses are highlighted in green in the table.
  2. ^ Having J.League 100 Year Plan club status.
  3. ^ Also based at Tomigusuku and Uruma.
  4. ^ Mainly based at Kuwana and Yokkaichi.
  5. ^ Mainly based at Beppu and Yufu.[4]

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and coaches may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information Team, Manager ...
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsors
Main Other(s)
Azul Claro Numazu Japan national football team Norihisa Shimizu Japan national football team Japan Athleta usui
List
    • Front: Meiden
    • Back: Suruga Bank, OKI
    • Sleeves: Mitsuboshi
    • Shorts: Kawata Construction
Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa Japan national football team Satoshi Tsunami Japan national football team Japan Jogarbola Urata
List
    • Front: Claudio, Sanwa
    • Back: Manavis, Shoei
    • Sleeves: Univership Brokers, Urayasu, Ichikawa
    • Shorts: Kyoei, Lion Heart Clinic
Criacao Shinjuku Japan national football team Hideaki Kitajima Japan national football team Japan MC Fashion Assetlead
List
Honda Japan national football team Shota Itokazu Japan national football team England Umbro Honda
List
Iwate Grulla Morioka Japan national football team Kei Hoshikawa Japan national football team England Umbro Nova
List
    • Front: Wiseman
    • Back: Palco Home
    • Sleeves: Iwate
    • Shorts: Ninomiya Clinic
J-Lease Japan national football team Masaki Yanagawa Japan national football team Germany Puma J-Lease
List
    • Front: Carebank, Kasuga Ryokka
    • Back: Medicare Otsuka, Kijima Kogen
    • Sleeves: Financial Design
    • Shorts: Oita Shiroya, Honda Cars Oita-Chuo
Maruyasu Okazaki Japan national football team Hiroyasu Ibata Japan national football team Japan Athleta Maruyasu
List
    • Front: Hoei
    • Back: Tokai Tokyo Securities, Meiji Yasuda Life
    • Sleeves: Hirotec Engineering
    • Shorts: None
Minebea Mitsumi Japan national football team Hideaki Kitajima Japan national football team England Umbro MinebeaMitsumi
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Okinawa Japan national football team Rei Onogi Japan national football team Japan
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
ReinMeer Aomori Japan national football team Masato Harasaki Japan national football team England Umbro Towa
List
    • Front: Kakuhiro, KBS
    • Back: Happy Drug, Nishidagumi
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Tiamo Hirakata Japan national football team Takahiro Futagawa Japan national football team Japan Jogarbola Izawa Towel
List
    • Front: Fukui, Himuro
    • Back: SCO Group, Zero Crest
    • Sleeves: Kakimaru
    • Shorts: None
Veertien Mie Japan national football team Shuichi Mase Japan national football team Japan Tres Daihatsu Mie
List
    • Front: San ju San Bank
    • Back: Shinnihon, Tado Green Farm
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: Taki Shoun
Verspah Oita Japan national football team Takashi Yamahashi Japan national football team Japan Yasuda Hoyo
List
    • Front: Rilno, Kyoei
    • Back: Soitax Japan, Nver
    • Sleeves: Beppu, Yufu, Oita
    • Shorts: Axions
Vonds Ichihara Japan national football team Seiya Mukoyama Japan national football team Japan Vinculum Pulchra
List
Yokogawa Musashino Japan national football team Hisayuki Ikegami Japan national football team Germany Puma Yokogawa Electric
List
    • Front: Koshin Shoji
    • Back: Komoju, Edit Study
    • Sleeves: Musashi-Sakai Driving School
    • Shorts: Environmental Control Center
YSCC Yokohama Japan national football team Tsuyoshi Omatsu Japan national football team Brazil Penalty My Basket
List
    • Front: Remain In, Taiko
    • Back: Sanshin, YKA Dance Studio
    • Sleeves: Honmoku, Yokohama
    • Shorts: None
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Managerial changes

Pre-season

More information Team, Outgoing head coach ...
Team Outgoing head coach Manner Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of arrival
Azul Claro Numazu Japan Hideto Suzuki Resigned 16 December 2025[5] Japan Norihisa Shimizu 17 January 2026[6]
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During the season

More information Team, Outgoing ...
Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position in table Incoming Incoming date
Announced on Departed on Announced on Arrived on
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Foreign players

More information Team, Player 1 ...
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Former players
Azul Claro Numazu South Korea Baek In-hwan Spain Enric Martínez
Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa
Criacao Shinjuku
Honda
Iwate Grulla Morioka North Korea Ryu Se-gun South Korea Won Tae-rang
J-Lease
Maruyasu Okazaki South Korea Yoo Seung-wan
Minebea Mitsumi
Okinawa South Korea Park Se-gi United States Elijah Whipp United States Rylan Swanson
ReinMeer Aomori South Korea Park Kwan-gyu South Korea Park Yong-ji
Tiamo Hirakata Brazil Felipe Sajioro South Korea Cha Won-jun Venezuela Ronaldo Rivas
Veertien Mie
Verspah Oita
Vonds Ichihara South Korea Park Gwang-hyeon
Yokogawa Musashino
YSCC Yokohama Brazil Fábio Azevedo South Korea Kim Min-woo
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Foreign players by confederation

More information Foreign players by confederation ...
Foreign players by confederation
AFC

 North Korea (1),  South Korea (9)

CAF
CONCACAF United States (2)
CONMEBOL Brazil (2),  Venezuela (1)
OFC
UEFA Spain (1)
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Standings

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Azul Claro Numazu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to J3 League[a]
2 Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for promotion playoff
3 Criacao Shinjuku 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Honda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Iwate Grulla Morioka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 J-Lease 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Maruyasu Okazaki 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Minebea Mitsumi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Okinawa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 ReinMeer Aomori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Tiamo Hirakata 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Veertien Mie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Verspah Oita 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Vonds Ichihara 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Yokogawa Musashino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to Regional Leagues
16 YSCC Yokohama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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First match(es) will be played: 29 August 2026. Source: Japan Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Dependent on obtaining a J.League license.

Position by round

Promotion to the J3 League
Qualification for the promotion play-off
Relegation to the Regional Leagues
First match(es) will be played on 29 August 2026. Source: Japan Football League

Results

Fixtures and results

More information Home \ Away, AZL ...
Home \ Away AZL BRI CRI HON GRU JLE MAR MIM OSV REI TIA VEE VRS VND YMS YSC
Azul Claro Numazu
Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa
Criacao Shinjuku
Honda
Iwate Grulla Morioka
J-Lease
Maruyasu Okazaki
Minebea Mitsumi
Okinawa
ReinMeer Aomori
Tiamo Hirakata
Veertien Mie
Verspah Oita
Vonds Ichihara
Yokogawa Musashino
YSCC Yokohama
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First match(es) will be played: 29 August 2026. Source: Japan Football League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Results by round

First match(es) will be played on 29 August 2026. Source: Japan Football League

Attendances

Overall

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Azul Claro Numazu 0 0 0 0 n/a†
2 Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa 0 0 0 0 n/a†
3 Criacao Shinjuku 0 0 0 0 n/a†
4 Honda 0 0 0 0 n/a†
5 Iwate Grulla Morioka 0 0 0 0 n/a†
6 J-Lease 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
7 Maruyasu Okazaki 0 0 0 0 n/a†
8 Minebea Mitsumi 0 0 0 0 n/a†
9 Okinawa 0 0 0 0 n/a†
10 ReinMeer Aomori 0 0 0 0 n/a†
11 Tiamo Hirakata 0 0 0 0 n/a†
12 Veertien Mie 0 0 0 0 n/a†
13 Verspah Oita 0 0 0 0 n/a†
14 Vonds Ichihara 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
15 Yokogawa Musashino 0 0 0 0 n/a†
16 YSCC Yokohama 0 0 0 0 n/a†
League total 0 0 0 0 n/a†
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Source: Japan Football League
Notes:
† Teams played previous season in J3 League
‡ Teams played previous season in Japanese Regional Leagues

Home match played

More information Team \ Match played, Total ...
Team \ Match played 123456789101112131415Total
Azul Claro Numazu
Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa
Criacao Shinjuku
Honda
Iwate Grulla Morioka
J-Lease
Maruyasu Okazaki
Minebea Mitsumi
Okinawa
ReinMeer Aomori
Tiamo Hirakata
Veertien Mie
Verspah Oita
Vonds Ichihara
Yokogawa Musashino
YSCC Yokohama
League total0
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Source: Japan Football League

Number of teams by prefecture

More information Number, Prefecture ...
Number Prefecture Team(s)
2  Chiba Prefecture Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa and Vonds Ichihara
 Ōita Prefecture J-Lease and Verspah Oita
 Shizuoka Prefecture Azul Claro Numazu and Honda
 Tokyo Criacao Shinjuku and Yokogawa Musashino
1  Aichi Prefecture Maruyasu Okazaki
 Aomori Prefecture ReinMeer Aomori
 Iwate Prefecture Iwate Grulla Morioka
 Kanagawa Prefecture YSCC Yokohama
 Mie Prefecture Veertien Mie
 Miyazaki Prefecture Minebea Mitsumi
 Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa
 Osaka Prefecture Tiamo Hirakata
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See also

References

External links

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