On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since qualifying for its first World Cup in 1998, Japan has reached every edition of the tournament and now sits 18th in the FIFA rankings. FRANCE 24's Adam Hancock, Alexis Bregere and Ayana Nishikawa travelled across Japan to uncover the secrets behind the remarkable rise of Japanese football.
Discipline and togetherness: Japan's strategy for football greatness
Political Leaning Analysis
Score: 0.00 •
Center / Neutral
Left
Center
Right
Story Timeline
Mon 08:47 - France 24
Discipline and togetherness: Japan's strategy for football greatness