Japanese Regional Football Champions League
| Founded | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Region | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Promotion to |
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| Current champions | Asuka FC (1st title) (2024) |
| Most championships |
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| Current: 2026 Japanese Regional Football Champions League | |
The Japanese Regional Champions League (Japanese: 全国地域サッカーチャンピオンズリーグ, Zenkoku Chiiki Sakkā Championzu Rīgu), known before 2016 as Japan Regional Football League Competition, is a nationwide play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the Japan Football League.
History
[edit]Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was the All Japan Senior Football Championship, a cup competition. In 1977, to test clubs in a league environment before entrance to the league, the Japan Football Association devised this tournament.
In 1984 and 1985 more promotion places were added due to the JSL, expanding its divisions. In 1992 it began promoting clubs to the former JFL's second division and, from 1994 to 1998, to its single division. In 1999 and 2000 it added extra promotion places due to the formation and expansion of the new JFL.
Yamaha Motors (Júbilo Iwata) are, thus far, the only Regional Series champions to later become First Division champions. They are also the only club to retain the title, as they failed to be promoted in their first attempt due to losing a playoff series. Since 1980 every champion has been automatically promoted, exceptions being in 1993 (Nippon Denso/FC Kariya lost a playoff) and in 2002 (Ain Foods requested not to be promoted as they lacked the resources to compete at the national level).
Qualification
[edit]Until 2009, the number of places in the tournament was 16, distributed as follows:
- All regional league champions (9 clubs)
- Four regional leagues runners-up (4 clubs)
- University club recommended by the All Japan University Football Association (1 club)
- Club recommended by the JFA (1 club)
- Shakaijin Cup winner (1 club)
- Other clubs (other league runners-up, Shakaijin Cup runners-up or third places, etc.) (0-3 clubs) – more allowed if Shakaijin Cup holder has won a regional league or been runner-up
As of 2024, the regional leagues runners-up are no longer eligible, and the All Japan University Football Association is no longer allowed to make recommendations, reducing the number of places to 12.
- All regional league champions (9 clubs)
- Shakaijin Cup semi-finalists not qualified yet by regional league title (3 clubs)
Format
[edit]Preliminary round
[edit]The clubs are grouped in three groups of four teams, playing at a centralised venue (no home-and-away format is followed). The winners of each group and the best-ranked runners-up qualifies for the final round.
Final round
[edit]As of 2025, the four remaining teams plays in the same round-robin format, with all four teams being on a single group. The group winner guarantees promotion for the Japan Football League, whereas the second-placed team plays a promotion/relegation match against the 15th-placed JFL club. If the group winner can't or don't want to join the JFL, the group runners-up goes on to the promotion/relegation match against the bottom-ranked the JFL club. If the group runners-up or both group winners and runners-up are not eligible or don't want to join the JFL, there will be no promotion/relegation match.
Winners
[edit]Teams in bold were promoted.
Source: JFA
Wins by region
[edit]Clubs in bold compete in the J.League (any division) in the 2025 season. Clubs in italics no longer exist. A dagger (†) indicates clubs that moved away from the region after winning the title.
| Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Kantō | 15 | Saitama SC, Toho Titanium SC, Yokohama Flügels, Omiya Ardija, Yomiuri S.C. Juniors, FC Tokyo, Yokogawa Musashino, Sagawa Express Tokyo, Thespa Gunma, Machida Zelvia, YSCC Yokohama, SC Sagamihara, Criacao Shinjuku, Briobecca Urayasu, Tochigi City FC |
| Tōkai | 10 | Júbilo Iwata (2), Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (2), Nagoya S.C., Seino Transportation, Tosu Futures †, FC Kariya (2), Jatco SC |
| Tōhoku | 7 | Vegalta Sendai, Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita, Grulla Morioka, ReinMeer Aomori, Cobaltore Onagawa, Iwaki FC |
| Kansai | 6 | Osaka Gas, Sagawa Express Osaka, Ain Foods, Nara Club, FC Tiamo Hirakata, Asuka FC |
| Chūgoku | 4 | Mazda Auto Hiroshima, Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima, Fagiano Okayama, Matsue City |
| Shikoku | 3 | Teijin SC, Kamatamare Sanuki, FC Imabari |
| Koshin'etsu | 2 | ALO's Hokuriku, Matsumoto Yamaga |
| Kyūshū | 2 | FC Ryukyu, J-Lease FC |
| Hokkaidō | – |
See also
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- Japanese association football league system
- J.League
- Japan Football League (JFL) (Tier 4)
- Regional Champions League (Promotion playoffs to JFL)
- Regional Leagues (Tier 5/6)
- Domestic cup
- Fujifilm Super Cup (Super Cup)
- Emperor's Cup (National Cup)
- J.League YBC Levain Cup (League Cup)
- F.League
- JFA Futsal Championship (National Cup)
- F.League Ocean Cup (League Cup)
- Beach Soccer Championship (National Cup)
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- JFA official page
- Japanese Regional Leagues summary(SOCCERWAY)
- 2011 season at the JFA
- Unofficial site from JFL News Archived 2019-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
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