J1 League
FIFA Region
AFC
Season
2026-2027
Location
Japan
Abbreviation
JPN1
Summary
The Meiji Yasuda J1 League (JPN1) is the top level of league-style football competition in Japan. At the end of the 2026-2027 JPN1 season, the JPN1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2027 AFC Champions League Elite - League Stage:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place 2026-2027 JPN1 teams
The winner of the 2026-2027 Emperor's Cup, typically a JPN1 team, also receives a berth in the League Stage of the 2027 AFC Champions League 2.
Leagues Pyramid - Japan
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| JPN1 | Meiji Yasuda J1 League | 20 |
| JPN2 | Meiji Yasuda J2 League | 20 |
| JPN3 | Meiji Yasuda J3 League | 20 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| 7 Aug 2026 - 6 Jun 2027 | 20: JPN1 (17), JPN2 (3) | ||
Season Format
Each JPN1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 19 JPN1 teams for a total of 38 league matches per team. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goal difference, (2) goals scored, (3) head-to-head points, (4) head-to-head goal difference, (5) head-to-head goals scored, then (6) Fairplay points.
Playoffs
Not applicable.
Relegation
At the end of the 2026-2027 JPN1 season, the 18th, 19th and 20th place teams will be relegated to JPN2.
More Info...
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | FC Machida Zelvia | 6 | 5 -1-0 | 16 | - | 18 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 2 -0-0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | Vissel Kobe | 6 | 4 -1-1 | 13 | - | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Kashima Antlers FC | 6 | 4 -0-2 | 12 | - | 13 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| 4 | Kashiwa Reysol | 6 | 4 -0-2 | 12 | - | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 6 | 3 -2-1 | 11 | - | 13 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | FC Tokyo | 6 | 3 -2-1 | 11 | - | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | Yokohama F Marinos | 6 | 3 -1-2 | 10 | - | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 8 | Fagiano Okayama | 6 | 3 -1-2 | 10 | - | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
| 9 | Cerezo Osaka | 6 | 3 -1-2 | 10 | - | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| 10 | Kawasaki Frontale | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | - | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 -1-0 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 -2-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 11 | Mito HollyHock | 6 | 2 -3-1 | 9 | - | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 -2-0 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 12 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 6 | 3 -0-3 | 9 | - | 12 | 15 | -3 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | -1 |
| 13 | Gamba Osaka | 6 | 1 -3-2 | 6 | - | 8 | 11 | -3 | 2 | 1 -1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 |
| 14 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 6 | 2 -0-4 | 6 | - | 7 | 11 | -4 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| 15 | Kyoto Sanga FC | 6 | 1 -2-3 | 5 | - | 7 | 11 | -4 | 2 | 1 -0-1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 | 0 -2-2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| 16 | Avispa Fukuoka | 6 | 1 -1-4 | 4 | - | 9 | 10 | -1 | 4 | 1 -1-2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 -0-2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 6 | 1 -1-4 | 4 | - | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 | 0 -1-2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 18 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 6 | 1 -1-4 | 4 | - | 7 | 14 | -7 | 3 | 1 -1-1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| 19 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 6 | 0 -3-3 | 3 | - | 2 | 8 | -6 | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 2 | 0 -2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | JEF United Chiba | 6 | 1 -0-5 | 3 | - | 5 | 15 | -10 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 | 0 -0-3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | -7 |
2027-2028 AFCCL Elite Relegation to JPN2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
Fri - 11 Sep 2026
 | Kashiwa Reysol | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
 | Kashima Antlers FC | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
Sat - 12 Sep 2026
 | Kawasaki Frontale | K’s Denki Stadium Mito |
 | Avispa Fukuoka | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
 | FC Tokyo | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
 | Yokohama F Marinos | Machida GION Stadium |
 | Cerezo Osaka | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | Peace Stadium Connected by SoftBank |
Sun - 13 Sep 2026
 | JEF United Chiba | Ajinomoto Stadium |
 | Fagiano Okayama | Saitama Stadium 2002 |
Sat - 19 Sep 2026
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Best Denki Stadium |
| JEF United Chiba | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | Saitama Stadium 2002 |
| Cerezo Osaka | Peace Stadium Connected by SoftBank |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| Kashima Antlers FC | Uvance Todoroki Stadium |
| Kyoto Sanga FC | JFE Harenokuni Stadium |
| Mito HollyHock | Nissan Stadium |
Sun - 20 Sep 2026
| Vissel Kobe | Panasonic Stadium Suita |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Machida GION Stadium |
Results
Sun - 6 Sep 2026
| 20 | Kyoto Sanga FC | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 31 | Shimizu S-Pulse | Uvance Todoroki Stadium |
| 31 | V-Varen Nagasaki | Noevir Stadium Kobe |
| 02 | Yokohama F Marinos | SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium |
| 00 | Tokyo Verdy 1969 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai |
| 32 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | JFE Harenokuni Stadium |
| 13 | FC Machida Zelvia | Paloma Mizuho Stadium |
| 01 | Urawa Red Diamonds | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 20 | Gamba Osaka | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
Sat - 5 Sep 2026
| 11 | Mito HollyHock | Best Denki Stadium |
Wed - 2 Sep 2026
| 11 | Kyoto Sanga FC | Nissan Stadium |
| 22 | Gamba Osaka | Peace Stadium Connected by SoftBank |
| 02 | Vissel Kobe | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 11 | FC Tokyo | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 30 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 42 | Kashima Antlers FC | K’s Denki Stadium Mito |
| 21 | Kawasaki Frontale | Machida GION Stadium |
| 12 | Fagiano Okayama | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
| 20 | Kashiwa Reysol | Yanmar Stadium Nagai |
| 23 | Urawa Red Diamonds | Best Denki Stadium |