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Australia–Japan football rivalry

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Australia–Japan football rivalry
Image
Australia played against Japan at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Other namesSocceroos vs Samurai Blue
LocationAsia (AFC)
TeamsImage Australia
Image Japan
First meeting27 November 1956
Summer Olympics
Australia 2–0 Japan
Latest meeting5 June 2025
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Australia 1–0 Japan
Statistics
Meetings total29
Most winsJapan (11)
All-time seriesAustralia: 8
Drawn: 10
Japan: 11
Australia–Japan football rivalry is located in Asian Football Confederation
Australia
Australia
Japan
Japan

The Australia–Japan football rivalry is a sports rivalry that exists between the national association football teams of each country, regarded as one of Asia's biggest football rivalries.[1] The rivalry is a relatively recent one, born from several highly competitive matches between the two teams since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.[2] The two teams have played each other in several significant matches, including a World Cup group stage match, the 2011 Asian Cup final and have been drawn in the same group in five consecutive World Cup qualification campaigns.

Origins

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Image
Socceroos supporters at a Japan match in Kaiserslautern

The first match between the two teams was played at the 1956 Olympics, ending in a 2–0 win for the Australians.[3] Another dozen matches were played between Australia and Japan until a semi-final match at the 2001 Confederations Cup which ended in a 1–0 for Japan, but the match-up only emerged as a rivalry after 2006, when Australia joined the AFC, especially the FIFA World Cup qualification games. The first match between the two sides after this was during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a group stage game where Australia was still technically competing as Oceania representatives. With just six minutes left, Japan led by a single goal, only for Australia to score thrice in succession to secure their first-ever win in a World Cup finals match in what is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history.[4]

Several fierce qualifying matches over the next few years enhanced the rivalry, and Japan got revenge for their World Cup defeat by knocking the Socceroos out of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup at the quarter-finals on penalties. In 2011, Japan again beat the Socceroos in an Asian Cup, this time in the final with a solitary goal in extra time sealing the title.

Men's matches

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No.DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
127 November 19561956 Olympic GamesAustralia Image2–0Image JapanAustralia Olympic Park, Melbourne
230 March 1968International friendlyAustralia Image2–2Image JapanAustralia Sydney Showground, Sydney
331 March 1968Australia Image3–1Image JapanAustralia Olympic Park, Melbourne
44 April 1968Australia Image1–3Image JapanAustralia Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
510 October 19691970 World Cup qualificationJapan Image1–3Image AustraliaSouth Korea Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul
616 October 1969Japan Image1–1Image AustraliaSouth Korea Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul
722 May 1994Kirin CupJapan Image1–1Image AustraliaJapan Big Arch Stadium, Hiroshima
829 September 1994International FriendlyJapan Image0–0Image AustraliaJapan National Stadium, Tokyo
915 February 1995Australia Image2–1Image JapanAustralia Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
1010 February 1996Australia Image1–4Image JapanAustralia Brandon Park, Wollongong
1114 February 1996Australia Image3–0Image JapanAustralia Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne
1215 February 1998Australia Image0–3 Image JapanAustralia Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
138 June 20012001 Confederations CupJapan Image 1–0Image AustraliaJapan International Stadium, Yokohama
1415 August 20012001 AFC–OFC Challenge CupJapan Image 3–0Image AustraliaJapan Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka
1512 June 20062006 World CupAustralia Image 3–1Image JapanGermany Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern
1621 July 20072007 Asian CupJapan Image 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Image AustraliaVietnam Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi
1711 February 20092010 World Cup qualificationJapan Image0–0Image AustraliaJapan International Stadium, Yokohama
1817 June 2009Australia Image2–1Image JapanAustralia Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
1929 January 20112011 Asian CupAustralia Image0–1 (a.e.t.)Image JapanQatar Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
2012 June 20122014 World Cup qualificationAustralia Image1–1Image JapanAustralia Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
214 June 2013Japan Image1–1Image AustraliaJapan Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2225 July 20132013 East Asian CupJapan Image3–2Image AustraliaSouth Korea Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong
2318 November 2014International FriendlyJapan Image 2–1Image AustraliaJapan Nagai Stadium, Osaka
2411 October 20162018 World Cup qualificationAustralia Image1–1Image JapanAustralia Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
2531 August 2017Japan Image2–0Image AustraliaJapan Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2612 October 20212022 World Cup qualificationJapan Image2–1Image AustraliaJapan Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
2724 March 2022Australia Image0–2Image JapanAustralia Stadium Australia, Sydney
2815 October 20242026 World Cup qualificationJapan Image1–1Image Australia Japan Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
295 June 2025Australia Image1–0Image JapanAustralia Perth Stadium, Perth

Women's matches

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Like their men's counterparts, the two nations also have a strong rivalry in the women's game, with both Australia and Japan among Asia's highest ranked nations. Although the first matches started in the 1980s, the two have met regularly in both friendly and competitive matches, in particular having competed often in the AFC Women's Asian Cup and having met in three Asian Cup finals.

Since Australia joined Asian Football Confederation in 2006, both Matildas and Nadeshiko became two of the only three Asian nations to finish in the top four of the FIFA Women's World Cup (Japan crowned champions in 2011 and runners-up in 2015 while Australia finish fourth in the 2023 edition).

No.DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamVenue
122 October 1984Xi'an Women's TournamentAustralia Image6–2Image JapanChina Xi'an
28 December 1984World InvitationalAustralia Image2–2Image JapanTaiwan Taipei
34 December 1989Prima CupJapan Image2–2Image AustraliaJapan Kanagawa
45 December 1989Prima CupJapan Image1–1Image AustraliaJapan Kanagawa
527 September 1994FriendlyJapan Image2–2Image AustraliaJapan Tokyo
69 July 1996FriendlyJapan Image2–2Image AustraliaUnited States Fort Lauderdale
731 May 2000Pacific CupAustralia Image1–0Image JapanAustralia Bruce Stadium, Canberra
86 April 2002Tournoi International de FranceAustralia Image1–1Image JapanFrance Stade Lebon, Angoulême
927 July 2003Three Nations TournamentJapan Image0–0Image AustraliaJapan Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai
1026 March 2005Two Match Friendly SeriesAustralia Image0–2Image JapanAustralia Sydney Olympic Stadium, Sydney
1129 March 2005Two Match Friendly SeriesAustralia Image2–1Image JapanAustralia Seymour Shaw Park, Sydney
1223 July 2005FriendlyJapan Image4–2Image AustraliaJapan Tokyo
1327 July 20062006 AFC Women's Asian CupAustralia Image2–0Image JapanAustralia Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
1419 November 2006FriendlyJapan Image1–0Image AustraliaJapan Tokyo
152 June 20082008 AFC Women's Asian CupAustralia Image1–3Image JapanVietnam Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City
168 June 2008Australia Image0–3Image Japan
1724 July 2008FriendlyJapan Image3–0Image AustraliaJapan Kobe
1827 May 20102010 AFC Women's Asian CupJapan Image0–1Image AustraliaChina Chengdu Sports Centre. Chengdu
195 September 20112012 Summer Olympics qualificationJapan Image1–0Image AustraliaChina Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan
2011 July 2012FriendlyJapan Image3–0Image AustraliaJapan National Stadium (Tokyo), Tokyo
2114 May 20142014 AFC Women's Asian CupAustralia Image2–2Image JapanVietnam Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City
2225 May 2014Japan Image1–0Image Australia
2327 June 20152015 FIFA Women's World CupAustralia Image0–1Image JapanCanada Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
2429 February 20162016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying TournamentAustralia Image3–1Image JapanJapan Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Osaka
2530 July 20172017 Tournament of NationsJapan Image2–4Image AustraliaUnited States San Diego Stadium, San Diego
2613 April 20182018 AFC Women's Asian CupJapan Image1–1Image AustraliaJordan Amman International Stadium, Amman
2720 April 2018Japan Image1–0Image Australia
282 August 20182018 Tournament of NationsAustralia Image2–0Image JapanUnited States SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
2914 July 2021FriendlyJapan Image1–0Image AustraliaJapan Sanga Stadium by Kyocera, Kameoka
3020 February 2025SheBelieves CupJapan Image4–0Image AustraliaUnited States Shell Energy Stadium, Houston
3121 March 20262026 AFC Women's Asian CupJapan Image1–0Image AustraliaAustralia Stadium Australia, Sydney

Overall

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Men

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As of 5 June 2025
TeamGPWDLGFGAGD
Australia29810113440–6
Japan29111084034+6

Women

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As of 21 March 2026
TeamGPWDLGFGAGD
Australia3189143748–11
Japan3114984837+11

Top scorers

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As of 5 June 2025

Players in bold are still available for selection.

RankPlayerGoals
1Australia Tim Cahill5
2Japan Kunishige Kamamoto4
3Australia Tommy McColl3
6Australia John Aloisi2
Australia Ray Baartz
Japan Takashi Hirano
Japan Hidetoshi Nakata
Japan Kaoru Mitoma
Japan Takuya Takagi
Japan Yuya Osako

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Highlights". Foxtel.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Sebastian Hassett (9 March 2012). "Socceroos to resume Japan rivalry in qualifying group for Brazil". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Socceroo 1956 Matches". Ozfootball.net. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Socceroos give Japan football rivalry free from baggage, John Duerden says". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
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