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2026–27 J2 League

Japanese association football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026–27 J2 League is the 28th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. This is also the twelfth season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 2.

Season2026–27
Dates8 August 2026 – May 2027
Matches40
Goals111 (2.78 per match)
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
J2 League
Season2026–27
Dates8 August 2026 – May 2027
Matches40
Goals111 (2.78 per match)
Top goalscorerCarlinhos Júnior
(4 goals)
Biggest home winTochigi City 5–0 Vanraure Hachinohe
(15 August 2026)
Biggest away winBlaublitz Akita 0–4 Kataller Toyama
(15 August 2026)
Highest attendance53,973
Yokohama FC 3–1 Júbilo Iwata
(16 August 2026)
Lowest attendance2,632
Vanraure Hachinohe 1–0 Blaublitz Akita
(29 August 2026)
Total attendance446,225[1]
Average attendance11,161
2027–28 →
All statistics correct as of 29 August 2026.
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Overview

General

This marked the first J2 League season scheduled with a summer-to-spring format with 20 teams will compete in the league – the fourteen teams from the previous season, three teams relegated from the J1 League and three teams promoted from J3 League.

Teams relegated from J1 League

Yokohama F. Marinos' victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima saw Albirex Niigata become the first team to be relegated on 25 October 2025. Albirex Niigata returned to J2 after spending three seasons in the top division.

Shonan Bellmare became the second team to be relegated after losing to Avispa Fukuoka on 26 October 2025, as Shonan Bellmare returned to J2 after spending eight seasons in the top division.[2]

Yokohama FC became the final team to be relegated after losing to Kashima Antlers on 8 November 2025, followed by Yokohama F. Marinos' victory over Kyoto Sanga the following day. Both results returned Yokohama FC to J2 after spending a season in the top division.

Teams promoted to J1 League

Mito HollyHock and V-Varen Nagasaki became the first two teams to be promoted on 29 November 2025. In the final matchweek, Mito HollyHock defeated Oita Trinita while V-Varen Nagasaki held Tokushima Vortis to a draw. This result ended a 25-season stay in J2 for Mito HollyHock and seven-seasons stay for V-Varen Nagasaki.[3][4]

The final promotion spot to J1 was secured by JEF United Chiba by defeating Tokushima Vortis in the final round of the promotion playoffs on 13 December 2025. This result saw them return to J1 after 17 seasons in the second division.[5]

Teams promoted from J3 League

Tochigi City became the first team to be promoted on 23 November 2025 after defeating Nagano Parceiro in matchweek 37. This result made it their second consecutive promotion after previously being promoted from JFL to J3. Vanraure Hachinohe became the second team to be promoted by holding Ryukyu Okinawa to a draw in the final matchweek on 29 November 2025. The last promotion slot secured by Tegevajaro Miyazaki after defeating FC Osaka in the final round of the promotion playoff on 14 December 2025.[6][7][8]

The three promoted teams will compete in J2 for the first time in their respective history.

Teams relegated to J3 League

Ehime FC became the first team to be relegated on 26 October 2025 after being defeated by Júbilo Iwata in matchweek 34 and that result ended their time in J2 for two seasons.[9]

Kataller Toyama's victory over Blaublitz Akita in the final matchweek on 29 November 2025, resulted in the relegation of Renofa Yamaguchi and Roasso Kumamoto. Renofa Yamaguchi were relegated after spending nine seasons in J2 despite a win over RB Omiya Ardija, while Roasso Kumamoto were held to a goalless draw by Ventforet Kofu resulted in their relegation after spending four seasons in J2.[10][11]

Teams

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2025 season.

More information Relegated from J1 League, Promoted from J3 League ...
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Location and stadium

↓ Relegated from the J1 League
↑ Promoted from the J3 League

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)
Albirex Niigata Japan Yuzo Funakoshi New Zealand Michael Fitzgerald[12] Germany Adidas Kameda Seika
List
    • Front: NSG Group, Oisix
    • Back: Komeri, Niigata Nippo
    • Sleeves: NAMICS Corporation
    • Shorts: None
Blaublitz Akita Japan Ken Yoshida Japan Hiroto Morooka[13] Brazil Athleta TDK
List
FC Imabari Spain Abel Mourelo López Japan Taiga Son, Japan Yuki Kajiura, Japan Takafumi Yamada, Brazil Edigar Junio, JapanYoshiaki Komai[14] Japan Asics Unicharm
List
Fujieda MYFC Japan Tomoaki Makino Japan Keita Matsuda[15] Japan Gol. Touzai (H) / Fujifilm (A)
List
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Japan Kenta Kawai Japan Shota Nishino[16] Japan Mizuno Shiroi Koibito (H) / Ishiya (A)
List
    • Front: Katagiri, A.I.PLAN, Hokuden
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Graphic Holdings, Hokkaido
    • Shorts: None
Iwaki FC Japan Yuzo Tamura Japan Ryota Nagaki[17] United States Under Armour BHC
List
    • Front: Starts, Showa Astec, Okamoto
    • Back: Alps Alpine
    • Sleeves: Iwaki
    • Shorts: None
Júbilo Iwata Japan Tadahiro Akiba Japan Kensuke Fujiwara[18] England Admiral Yamaha
List
    • Front: Kurabe
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Hamamatsu Photonics
    • Shorts: None
Kataller Toyama Japan Ryo Adachi Japan Tsubasa Yoshihira[19] Japan Goldwin YKK AP
List
Montedio Yamagata Japan Akinobu Yokouchi Japan Shoma Doi[20] Brazil Penalty ABeam
List
Oita Trinita Japan Shuhei Yomoda Japan Keigo Sakakibara[21] Germany Puma Oita Bank
List
    • Front: Crasus Chemical, TKP, Daihatsu Kyushu
    • Back: Shiraishi
    • Sleeves: SkyDeck, Oita
    • Shorts: None
RB Omiya Ardija Spain Narcís Pèlach Brazil Gabriel[22] Germany Adidas Red Bull
List
Sagan Tosu Japan Akio Kogiku Japan Kenta Nishizawa[23] United States New Balance Kimura Information Technology
List
    • Front: X-Mobile, Saga SSP, Asahi I&R, Mest
    • Back: Best Amenity, Animal One
    • Sleeves: 7Force, Tosu
    • Shorts: None
Shonan Bellmare Japan Tetsu Nagasawa Japan Kazuki Dohana[24] England Umbro Fujita
List
Tegevajaro Miyazaki Japan Yuji Okuma Japan Koji Okumura[25] Japan ZOZO Ichigo
List
    • Front: Matsumoto Holdings, BTV Miyazaki, Miyazaki Weight Machine, The Miyanichi
    • Back: Ichigo, Ooyodo Kaihatsu
    • Sleeves: Miyazaki Toyota, Miyazaki
    • Shorts: None
Tochigi City Japan Naoki Imaya Japan Ryo Okui[26] Japan Luxperior Nippon Rika
List
Tokushima Vortis Japan Takafumi Yoshimoto Japan Ken Iwao[27] Japan Mizuno Pocari Sweat
List
Vanraure Hachinohe Japan Keiji Kuraishi Japan Shoma Takayoshi[28] Denmark Hummel Atmix
List
    • Front: Home Center SUNDAY, Daiko
    • Back: Prifoods, Miit Solution
    • Sleeves: Daily Tohoku
    • Shorts: Miyago Group
Vegalta Sendai Japan Yoshiro Moriyama Japan Masahiro Sugata[29] Germany Adidas Iris Ohyama
List
Ventforet Kofu Japan Hiroki Shibuya Japan Miki Inoue[30] Japan Mizuno Hakubaku
List
    • Front: YSK e-com, Nihon Network Service
    • Back: Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Kyokuyo
    • Sleeves: Kusuri no Sunroad, Yamanashi
    • Shorts: Maruai
Yokohama FC Japan Daisuke Sudo Japan Katsuya Iwatake[31] Germany Puma Onodera Group
List
    • Front: Yokorei, Fudeal Creation
    • Back: Frontier Direct, Japan Elevator Service
    • Sleeves: S-Dental Group, Yokohama
    • Shorts: None
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Managerial changes

Post 100 Year Vision

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of arrival
Vanraure Hachinohe Yuki Takahashi[32] Resigned 6 June 2026 Keiji Kuraishi[33] 9 June 2026
Tokushima Vortis Takefumi Otani[34] Resigned 8 June 2026 Takafumi Yoshimoto[35] 8 June 2026
FC Imabari Yuji Tsukada[36] Resigned 10 June 2026 Abel Mourelo López[37] 11 June 2026
Júbilo Iwata Fumitake Miura[38] Sacked 15 June 2026 Tadahiro Akiba[39] 15 June 2026
RB Omiya Ardija Mitsuhiro Toda[40] End of interim spell 23 June 2026 Narcís Pèlach[41] 24 June 2026
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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

As of the 2024 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[42] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[43]
More information Team, Player 1 ...
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Player 9 Former players
Albirex Niigata Australia Jason Geria Brazil Danilo Gomes Brazil Iury Castilho Brazil Matheus Moraes Dominican Republic Noam Baumann New Zealand Michael Fitzgerald
Blaublitz Akita
FC Imabari Brazil Edigar Junio Brazil Gabriel Gomes Brazil Wesley Tanque Serbia Aleksandar Paločević South Korea Lee Young-jun South Korea Taiga Son
Fujieda MYFC South Korea Wigi Kanemoto
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Brazil Mário Sérgio Brazil Vini Peixoto Ghana Kinglord Safo Sierra Leone Amadou Bakayoko South Korea Kim Geon-ung South Korea Park Min-gyu Thailand Itthimon Tippanet Thailand Supachok Sarachat Thailand Teerapat Pruetong
Iwaki FC South Korea Jeon Seo-ho South Korea Joo Hyun-jin
Júbilo Iwata Brazil Danilo Cardoso Brazil Iago Teles Brazil João Victor Brazil Matheus Peixoto Brazil Yuri Lara
Kataller Toyama South Korea Jung Woo-young South Korea Kang Min-woo South Korea Kim Tae-won South Korea Koh Bong-jo
Montedio Yamagata Brazil Thalisson South Korea Lee Dong-hee
Oita Trinita Brazil Matheus Pereira Brazil Patrick Verhon South Korea Mun Kyung-gun
RB Omiya Ardija Australia Tom Glover Brazil Carlinhos Júnior Brazil Gabriel Brazil Kauã Diniz Brazil Mauricio Caprini Thailand Suphanat Mueanta
Sagan Tosu South Korea Park Ho-min
Shonan Bellmare Brazil Arthur Silva Colombia Fabián González
Tegevajaro Miyazaki South Korea Lee Chung-won
Tochigi City Australia Aidan Simmons Australia Joe Caletti Brazil Pedro Augusto Chile Byron Vásquez Croatia Matej Jonjić Norway Tokmac Nguen South Korea Kim Jin-hyeon
Tokushima Vortis Brazil Kaique Mafaldo Brazil Lucas Barcellos Brazil Thonny Anderson Nigeria Lawrence Izuchukwu South Korea Kang Young-kwang
Vanraure Hachinohe Myanmar Kaung Zan Mara
Vegalta Sendai Brazil Gustavo Brazil Mateus Moraes South Korea Han Ho-gang
Ventforet Kofu Brazil Holneiker Mendes Italy Michele Staccioli South Korea Lee Min-ki
Yokohama FC Brazil Adaílton Brazil João Paulo Brazil Lukian
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Foreign players by confederation

More information Foreign players by confederation ...
Foreign players by confederation
AFC Australia (4),  Myanmar (1),  South Korea (19),  Thailand (4)
CAF Ghana (1),  Nigeria (1),  Sierra Leone (1)
CONCACAF Dominican Republic (1)
CONMEBOL Brazil (31),  Chile (1),  Colombia (1)
OFC New Zealand (1)
UEFA Croatia (1),  Italy (1),  Norway (1),  Serbia (1),
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Standings

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Omiya Ardija 4 3 1 0 10 5 +5 10 Promotion to J1 League
2 Montedio Yamagata 4 3 0 1 7 1 +6 9
3 Fujieda MYFC 4 3 0 1 8 4 +4 9 Qualification for the Promotion playoff
4 Albirex Niigata 4 3 0 1 6 4 +2 9
5 Shonan Bellmare 4 2 2 0 4 2 +2 8
6 Vegalta Sendai 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2 7
7 Júbilo Iwata 4 2 1 1 7 6 +1 7
8 Yokohama FC 4 2 1 1 6 5 +1 7
9 Kataller Toyama 4 2 0 2 10 5 +5 6
10 Tochigi City 4 2 0 2 9 6 +3 6
11 Vanraure Hachinohe 4 2 0 2 3 7 −4 6
12 Sagan Tosu 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 5
13 Oita Trinita 4 1 1 2 4 3 +1 4
14 Blaublitz Akita 4 1 1 2 4 6 −2 4
15 Tokushima Vortis 4 1 1 2 2 4 −2 4
16 Ventforet Kofu 4 1 1 2 3 7 −4 4
17 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 4 1 0 3 5 8 −3 3
18 Iwaki FC 4 1 0 3 6 11 −5 3 Relegation to the J3 League
19 Tegevajaro Miyazaki 4 0 2 2 3 6 −3 2
20 FC Imabari 4 0 0 4 3 12 −9 0
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Updated to match(es) played on 29 August 2026. Source: J2 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.

Position by round

Promotion to the J1 LeagueQualification for the promotion playoffRelegation to the J3 League
More information Team ╲ Round, Albirex Niigata ...
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Albirex Niigata131084
Blaublitz Akita10191214
FC Imabari12202020
Fujieda MYFC4153
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo181417
Iwaki FC6111518
Júbilo Iwata1115127
Kataller Toyama19739
Montedio Yamagata3962
Oita Trinita1414913
Omiya Ardija7311
Sagan Tosu551012
Shonan Bellmare9425
Tegevajaro Miyazaki15131719
Tochigi City176410
Tokushima Vortis20171815
Vanraure Hachinohe2121611
Vegalta Sendai1617116
Ventforet Kofu18161916
Yokohama FC8278
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Updated to match(es) played on 29 August 2026. Source: J2 League

Results

Fixtures and results

More information Home \ Away, ALB ...
Home \ Away ALB BBA FCI FUJ HCS IWA JUB KAT MTO OIT OMI SGT SHB TEG TCI TKV VNH VEG VEN YFC
Albirex Niigata 1–0 2–1
Blaublitz Akita a 0–4 a a a 3–0
FC Imabari 0–3 2–3
Fujieda MYFC 3–1 2–0
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 1–4 2–0
Iwaki FC 2–3 a 2–1
Júbilo Iwata 1–1 2–1
Kataller Toyama 4–0 2–3
Montedio Yamagata a 2–0 2–0
Oita Trinita 4–1 0–1
Omiya Ardija 1–0 2–2
Sagan Tosu 1–3 2–0
Shonan Bellmare 1–0
Tegevajaro Miyazaki 0–0 0–1
Tochigi City 1–3 5–0
Tokushima Vortis 1–0 0–0
Vanraure Hachinohe 1–0 2–0 0–2
Vegalta Sendai a 0–0 4–2
Ventforet Kofu 2–1 1–1
Yokohama FC 3–1 2–2
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Updated to match(es) played on 29 August 2026. Source: J2 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

More information Team ╲ Round, Albirex Niigata ...
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Updated to match(es) played on 29 August 2026. Source: J2 League

Promotion playoff

Based on the J2 placements at the end of the regular season, the third-placed team played against the sixth-placed, while the fourth-placed team played against the fifth-placed. The winners of the semi-finals played the final, with the winners promoted to the J1.

If a match was tied in the play-offs, the team with the highest league position are declared the winner. The rank order was: J2's third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-placed teams.

Bracket

Semi-finals Final
      
3  
6  
 
 
4  
5  

Matches

Semifinals

2027 3th-placed of J2 League v 6th-placed of J2 League
--:-- UTC+9
2027 4th-placed of J2 League v 5th-placed of J2 League
--:-- UTC+9

Final

2027 Winner of Semifinal 1 v Winner of Semifinal 2
--:-- UTC+9

Attendances

Overall

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Albirex Niigata 0 0 0 0 n/a†
2 Blaublitz Akita 0 0 0 0 n/a†
3 FC Imabari 0 0 0 0 n/a†
4 Fujieda MYFC 0 0 0 0 n/a†
5 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 0 0 0 0 n/a†
6 Iwaki FC 0 0 0 0 n/a†
7 Júbilo Iwata 0 0 0 0 n/a†
8 Kataller Toyama 0 0 0 0 n/a†
9 Montedio Yamagata 0 0 0 0 n/a†
10 Oita Trinita 0 0 0 0 n/a†
11 RB Omiya Ardija 0 0 0 0 n/a†
12 Sagan Tosu 0 0 0 0 n/a†
13 Shonan Bellmare 0 0 0 0 n/a†
14 Tegevajaro Miyazaki 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
15 Tochigi City 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
16 Tokushima Vortis 0 0 0 0 n/a†
17 Vanraure Hachinohe 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
18 Vegalta Sendai 0 0 0 0 n/a†
19 Ventforet Kofu 0 0 0 0 n/a†
20 Yokohama FC 0 0 0 0 n/a†
League total 0 0 0 0 n/a†
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Source: J2 League
Notes:
† Teams played previous season in J1 League
‡ Teams played previous season in J3 League

Home match played

More information Team \ Match played, Total ...
Team \ Match played 12345678910111213141516171819Total
Albirex Niigata28,94918,38247,331
Blaublitz Akita6,7814,46211,243
FC Imabari8,3496,72915,078
Fujieda MYFC10,6586,10016,758
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo18,37315,47133,844
Iwaki FC5,5754,99910,574
Júbilo Iwata14,90114,23529,136
Kataller Toyama8,7136,02814,741
Montedio Yamagata17,28912,05829,347
Oita Trinita14,3737,53721,910
Omiya Ardija12,21711,65723,874
Sagan Tosu18,1168,24326,359
Shonan Bellmare11,58311,583
Tegevajaro Miyazaki3,5612,9186,479
Tochigi City3,4303,5666,996
Tokushima Vortis12,2227,43519,657
Vanraure Hachinohe4,0884,4012,63211,121
Vegalta Sendai18,32312,32630,649
Ventforet Kofu9,8577,25817,115
Yokohama FC53,9738,65762,630
League total212,523
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Source:data.j-league.or.jp

Number of teams by prefecture

See also

References

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