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Japan–South Korea football rivalry

Japan and South Korea contesting the 2010 East Asian Football Championship
Location	Asia (AFC) East Asia (EAFF)
Teams	Japan  South Korea
First meeting	7 March 1954 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Japan 1–5 South Korea
Latest meeting	27 July 2022 2022 EAFF Championship Japan 3–0 South Korea
Statistics
Meetings total	81
Top scorer	Kunishige Kamamoto (7)
All-time series	Japan: 16 South Korea: 42 Draw: 23
Largest victory	South Korea 5–1 Japan 7 March 1954 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification
JapanSouth Korea

The Japan–South Korea football rivalry is a rivalry between the Japan national football team and South Korea national football team, and is one of the Japan–South Korea sports rivalries. The two have played each other officially since 1954. These matches are known as Nikkansen (Japanese: 日韓戦) or Haniljeon (Korean: 한일전) in their respective languages.

History

The historical and regional conflicts between Japan and South Korea, including Japanese occupation of Korea until 1945, have greatly influenced the football rivalry between the two countries. Their first encounter in football was a two-legged qualifier for the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Both matches were held in Japan, with the South Korean government banning the Japan national team from entering their country at the time. South Korea qualified for the 1954 World Cup after defeating Japan 7–3 on aggregate. The two countries also met in the two-legged final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification, and South Korea once again advanced to the World Cup by winning 3–1 on aggregate.

Japan conceded the World Cup berth to South Korea one more time despite a 1–0 derby win in 1994. Japan claimed the top spot before the last match in Asia's round-robin tournament, but was overtaken by Saudi Arabia and South Korea after drawing 2–2 with Iraq in that match. The draw between Japan and Iraq was called the "Agony of Doha" in Japan and the "Miracle of Doha" in South Korea.

The "Japan–South Korea Regular Match" was held 15 times from 1972 to 1991, and South Korea led the event with 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. Its revival was steadily expected by the press, but on the contrary, there were no "A" team matches between the two countries for ten years between 2011 and 2021, apart from the games at the EAFF Championship. Some of the causes were scheduling conflicts and poor diplomatic relations.

South Korea overwhelmingly led the first 50 matches with 32 wins, 11 draws and 7 losses, but the rivalry has become a very close contest since the early 1990s following the establishment of the J.League. From 2021 to 2023, South Korea suffered five consecutive defeats against Japan at all age levels of men's football, all by the same scoreline of 3–0, including the "A" team friendly on 25 March 2021. In 2023, JoongAng Ilbo surveyed 30 executives in the Korea Football Association, mostly K League club administrators, and 80% agreed that Japan overtook South Korea ten years ago.

Level of matches

The highest level of matches which the two nations could contest are the FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup qualification and the AFC Asian Cup. As of 2024, their last meeting at these levels dates back to the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. They have never met at the FIFA World Cup.

In the EAFF Championships, both countries field mostly players from their domestic leagues rather than their best players based in Europe. The difference in levels between their first-team squad and their domestic league squad depends on the number of players playing in Europe. Japan has had a boom of Europe-based players since the 2010s, hence their domestic league squad is described as the third or fourth national squad. On the other hand, as of the mid-2020s, South Korea's first team does not consist of many players from Europe, hence their domestic-league squad in EAFF is described as 1.5 or "slightly below 1.5" squad. However, Japanese and Korean fans and media still take much pride in their EAFF rivalry. Japan's coach Vahid Halilhodžić played with his third squad and lost to South Korea 4–1 in Tokyo at the 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, leading to heavy domestic criticism and contributing to him being sacked just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Men's matches

Head-to-head record

As of 27 July 2022

List

Women's matches

Head-to-head record

As of 26 October 2024

List

See also

• Japan–South Korea baseball rivalry

Footnotes

1. The five matches with the same scoreline of 3–0 include the international "A" friendly match in March 2021, the 2022 U-16 International Dream Cup in June 2022, the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup quarter-final in June 2022, the 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship in July 2022, and the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup final in July 2023.

1. ^ AFC Asian Cup and Asian Games (until 1998) matches are generally recognised as international "A" matches by FIFA and Asian nations, but Japan does not recognise some of them including three matches against South Korea (on 1 August 1967, 6 December 1988 and 7 December 1998).
2. ^ Olympic qualifiers until 1988 are generally not recognised as international "A" matches by FIFA, but are recognised by Asian nations including Japan and South Korea.

References

1. "Japan–South Korea matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
2. ^ "FIFA Century Club" (PDF). FIFA. 19 April 2024. p. 21. Retrieved 19 April 2024. FIFA recognises only matches played within the FIFA World Cup (including preliminary competitions), continental competitions (including qualifiers), friendly matches between senior national teams and Olympic final and qualifying matches played up to and including 1948 (with certain exceptions) as "A" international matches.
3. Ishikawa, Hidekazu (25 March 2021). "日韓サッカー対戦成績で両国に３試合のズレ…なぜ？". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
4. "日本代表 試合別出場記録" [List of Japan national team matches] (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 22 June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
5. ^ Miller, Nick; Ames, Nick (17 November 2014). "The world's greatest international football rivalries – ranked and reviewed". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
6. "A rivalry is born in Tokyo". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
7. ^ 박정희는 '축구 한일전'의 수혜자였다 (in Korean). OhmyNews. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
8. 한일 축구정기전 부활 (in Korean). KBS. 6 June 1996. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
9. 한일 축구 정기전 15년 만에 부활. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 3 August 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
10. 정몽규, "한일 정기전 부활 시킨다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 26 July 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
11. "サッカー日韓戦　"10年の謎"　2011年以来、なぜ親善試合がなかったのか". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
12. ^ "マッチレポート: 日時2021年3月25日19:25" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 25 March 2021.
13. "代表親善試合 日本 vs. 韓国 試合経過". Sportsnavi (in Japanese). 25 March 2021.
14. "代表親善試合 日本 vs. 韓国 試合テキスト速報". Sportsnavi (in Japanese). 25 March 2021.
15. "公式記録[U16]U-16 インターナショナルドリームカップ2022 JAPAN presented by JFA 第1節 【2】" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 8 June 2022.
16. "日程・結果［2］第1節2022年06月08日18:00 KickOff ユアテックスタジアム仙台". Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 8 June 2022.
17. "AFC U23アジアカップ6月12日(日)U-23韓国 0–3 U-21日本テキスト速報". NTT Docomo dmenu (in Japanese). 12 June 2022.
18. "U23アジアカップ 準々決勝 試合経過". Sportsnavi (in Japanese). 13 June 2022.
19. ^ "マッチレポート: 日時2022年7月27日19:20" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 27 July 2022.
20. "E-1選手権第3節日本 vs. 韓国 試合経過". Sportsnavi (in Japanese). 27 July 2022.
21. "E-1選手権第3節日本 vs. 韓国 テキスト速報". Sportsnavi (in Japanese). 27 July 2022.
22. "South Korea U17 – Japan U17". Sofascore. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024.
23. "【Ｕ17】日本連覇！名和田我空２ゴール＆道脇豊ダメ押し　日韓戦制し４度目アジア王者／詳細". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 3 July 2023.
24. Song, Ji-hoon; Park, Rin (22 August 2023). "Korea-Japan rivalry is becoming a very one-sided affair". JoongAng Ilbo.
25. Song, Ji-hoon; Park, Rin (7 August 2023). [한·일 축구 벌어지는 격차 ①]일본 유럽파, 한국 5배…이제 '12척 배'로 못이긴다. JoonAang Ilbo (in Korean).
26. Song, Ji-hoon; Park, Rin (7 August 2023). [한·일 축구 벌어지는 격차②]축구인 80% “이미 10년전 일본에 추월 당해”. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean).
27. Song, Ji-hoon; Park, Rin (8 August 2023). [한일 축구 벌어지는 격차③]유럽행 길 터주고 전진 기지 만들자. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean).
28. "Squad for EAFF lacks superstars, calls up 8 fresh players". Yonhap. JoongAng Ilbo. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
29. 윤진만 (27 July 2022). "또 충격!! 한달만에 찾아온 한일전 참사, 0대3은 '기본값'이 됐다". 스포츠조선. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. 하지만 사실상의 일본 3군을 상대로 결과와 내용을 모두 놓쳤다.
30. ^ 유지선 (17 December 2017). "한국과 일본, 마지막에 희비를 가른 차이". 인터풋볼. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. 일본 현지 언론은 이번 대표팀을 사실상 '3군'이라고 표현했다. 해외파 선수들은 물론이며, 우라와 레즈 소속 선수 5명도 제외됐기 때문이다. 실제로 그라운드 위에서 개개인의 실력 차가 도드라지긴 했다. 하지만 더 큰 차이는 한일전을 맞는 양 팀 감독의 태도였다.
31. McIntyre, Scott; Church, Michael (7 August 2022). "Our verdict: Ahead of the World Cup, what did we learn from EAFF E-1 Championships". The Asian Game. Retrieved 11 March 2024. Japan were not particularly impressive, but let's not pretend that this was anything other than Japan's third or fourth string eleven.
32. 정다워 (29 July 2022). "주전-비주전 격차 재확인, 월드컵서 한 자리만 펑크나도 큰일". 스포츠서울. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. 이번 대회는 해외파와 일부 K리거들이 빠진 가운데 진행됐다. 사실상 1.5군 이하 정도로 볼 수 있는 멤버였는데
33. 남장현 (29 July 2022). "그들만의 잔치? '애물단지' E-1 챔피언십, 의미를 찾았으면". 스포츠동아. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. 냉정히 말해 1.5군에도 미치지 않는 전력을 꾸린 대표팀에 많은 관심을 기대하는 것은 곤란하다. 더욱이 올해 대회는 일본과 중국이 자국리그의 어린 선수들을 대거 출전시켜 훨씬 시들해졌다.
34. 이윤미 (18 December 2019). "한일전, 한국 '1.5군' vs 일본 'U-23' 자존심 싸움…객관적 전력 우세". 이투데이. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. 남자 축구 한일전 경기가 한국의 '1.5군'과 일본의 'U-23' 간 자존심 싸움이 된 모양새다.
35. ^ "All-time record per countries" (in Korean). Korea Football Association. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
36. "2002W杯までのトルシエ・ジャパン戦績: 韓国×日本（韓国・ソウル）". Masujima Stadium (in Japanese). 26 April 2000.
37. "2002W杯までのトルシエ・ジャパン戦績：2000年12月20日: 日本×韓国（東京・国立霞ヶ丘競技場）". Masujima Stadium (in Japanese). 20 December 2000.
38. "マッチレポート2010年5月24日" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 24 May 2010.
39. "AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 Match summary: Match 29". Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012.
40. "日本 - 韓国 スコア速報 - アジア杯2011". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 25 January 2011.
41. "マッチレポート2011年8月10日" (PDF). Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 10 August 2011.
42. "森保ジャパン無得点で敗戦／東アジアＥ１選手権詳細". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 18 December 2019.
43. "韓国対日本 スコア詳細". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 18 December 2019.

External links

• Japan Football Association (JFA) – official website (in English)
• Korea Football Association (KFA) – official website (in English)

v t e Japan–South Korea relations
Diplomatic posts	Embassy of Japan, Seoul Ambassador of Japan to South Korea
Diplomacy	Treaty of Gyehae Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1882 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1885 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904 Japan–Korea Agreement of August 1904 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 Japan–Korea Agreement of April 1905 Japan–Korea Agreement of August 1905 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 Battle of Namdaemun Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea June 3 Resistance movement Japan–South Korea Joint Declaration of 1998 China–Japan–South Korea Free Trade Agreement China–Japan–South Korea trilateral summit Japan–South Korea Comfort Women Agreement American–Japanese–Korean trilateral pact
Conflicts	Goguryeo–Wa War Battle of Baekgang Mongol invasions of Japan Ōei Invasion Imjin War Timeline Pukkwan Victory Monument Convention of Tientsin Korea under Japanese rule Treaty of Portsmouth Treaty of Shimonoseki Japanese General Government Building, Seoul Oriental Development Company Japanese Korean Army Korean independence movement Sakuradamon incident (1932) March 1st Movement 105-Man Incident Sōshi-kaimei Japanese war crimes Korean Women's Volunteer Labour Corps Hashima Island Comfort women Statue of Peace Wednesday demonstration The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan Liancourt Rocks Liancourt Rocks dispute Dai Ichi Daihoumaru Ship case Rusk documents Korean claim to Tsushima Island Sea of Japan naming dispute
Incidents	Disturbance of the Three Ports Jiajing wokou raids Wokou Imo Incident Gapsin Coup Seikanron Ganghwa Island incident Hague Secret Emissary Affair Jeamni massacre Gando massacre Shinano River incident 1923 Great Kantō earthquake Kantō Massacre Ukishima Maru Japan Air Lines Flight 351 Bombing of the Soji-ji Ossuary Korean history textbook controversies Japanese history textbook controversies 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations Special law to redeem pro-Japanese collaborators' property 2010 Japan–South Korea cyberwarfare Sankei Shimbun 2018 Japan–South Korea radar lock-on dispute Japan–South Korea trade dispute 2019 boycott of Japanese products in South Korea Concerns and controversies at the 2020 Summer Olympics Boycotts of Japanese products Exclusive economic zone of Japan
Military relations	Camp David Principles GSOMIA Korean conflict Korean War Alddreu Airfield
Related	History of Japan–Korea relations Relations between Gaya and ancient Japan Japan–North Korea relations Japan–South Korea sports rivalries Baseball rivalry Football rivalry 1993 Japan v Iraq football match 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan–South Korea Joint History Research Project Voluntary Agency Network of Korea Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel Anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea Fushin-sen Netto-uyoku Sangokujin Chinilpa Jjokbari Zaitokukai Mintohren RJK RNAL TPE (cable system) Censorship of Japanese media in South Korea Manga Kenkanryu Hetalia: Axis Powers New Life+: Young Again in Another World Haedong Jegukgi Kim Hong-jip Empress Jingū Yi Bangja Yu Kil-chun Koma Shrine Korean influence on Japanese culture Korean musicians in Japan Mimana Mindan 2channel Yasukuni Shrine Controversies surrounding Yasukuni Shrine So Far from the Bamboo Grove Anti-Japan Tribalism
Category:Japan–South Korea relations

• Japan–South Korea football rivalry
• International association football rivalries
• Japan national football team rivalries
• South Korea national football team rivalries
• Japan at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup