J.League Cup

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J.League Cup
J.League YBC Levain Cup
Founded1992; 32 years ago (1992)
RegionJapan
Number of teams60
Current championsAvispa Fukuoka
(1st title)
Most successful club(s)Kashima Antlers (6 titles)
Television broadcastersFuji TV, SKY PerfecTV!
(live matches)
Websitejleague.jp/cup
2024 J.League Cup

The J.League Cup (Japanese: Jリーグカップ, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Kappu) is a Japanese football (soccer) competition organised by J.League, the men's association football league in Japan. It has been sponsored by Yamazaki Biscuits (YBC) of Yamazaki Baking (formerly Yamazaki Nabisco) since its inception in 1992. It is a.k.a. J.League YBC Levain Cup (Japanese: JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Waibīshī Ruvan Kappu) or YBC Levain Cup (Japanese: ルヴァンカップ、ルヴァン杯, Hepburn: Ruvan Kappu) (Levain is one of YBC's products).[1] It was a.k.a. J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup (Japanese: Jリーグヤマザキナビスコカップ, Hepburn: Jē-rīgu Yamazaki Nabisuko Kappu) or Nabisco Cup (Japanese: ナビスコカップ、ナビスコ杯, Hepburn: Nabisuko Kappu) until August 2016.

It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to league cup competitions played in many countries, such as the Football League Cup in England, as complementary to the Emperor's Cup competed between clubs from all divisions of professional football in Japan. Before the J. League Cup was created, the old Japan Soccer League had its own Japan Soccer League Cup since the 1976 season.

The tournament format varies almost each year largely depending on the schedule of international matches such as the Olympic Games and World Cup games (see the Format section below).

From 2007 to 2023, the winners qualified for the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship held in the following summer, where they played against the winners of the Copa Sudamericana. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but was not held for 2021 and 2022, before ultimately being cancelled in 2023.

Format[edit]

Early years (1992–1998)[edit]

1992
The founding ten clubs of the J. League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season. At the group stage, each team played the other teams once. There was no draw and the golden goal, extra time and penalty shootout was employed to decide a tie if necessary. A sudden death was applied to the penalty shoot-out from the first kicker. The winner of a game got four points. A team who scored two or more goals in a game also won one point. The top four teams of the group stage went on to the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1993
Thirteen teams (the ten J. League sides as well as the three JFL sides who had J. League associate membership) took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into two groups, one consisting seven and the other consisting six. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. The top two teams of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1994
Fourteen teams (the twelve J. League sides as well as the two JFL sides who had J. League associate membership) took part. There was no group stage. The ties were single matches all through the competition.
1995
No competition
1996
The sixteen J. League sides participated. J. League associate member teams did not take part due to the congested schedule. At the group stage, the teams were divided into two groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice (home and away). A tie was decided by the aggregate of two matches. The winner of a tie got three points and a draw earned one point. The top two teams of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
1997
Twenty teams (all the J. League clubs and the JFL clubs with J. League associate membership) participated. At the group stage, the teams were divided into five groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. A win earned three points, a draw earned one point. There was no extra time at this stage. The top team of each group, as well as the three second-placed teams with the best records, were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were played over two matches (home and away). Although Sagan Tosu had forfeited their associate membership because of the bankruptcy of their forerunner Tosu Futures, they were allowed to enter the competition as a special case.
1998
Twenty teams (all the J. League clubs and the JFL clubs with J. League associate membership) participated. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group once. The top team of each group was qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.

As tournaments for J1 and J2 (1999–2001)[edit]

1999
All the twenty-six J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2000
All the twenty-seven J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2001
All the twenty-eight J1 and J2 clubs participated. There was no group stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.

As tournaments for only J1 (2002–2017)[edit]

2002
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top two teams of the each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
2003
The trophy awarded to Urawa Red Diamonds, 2003 winners
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the AFC Champions League. The remaining fourteen teams were divided into four groups, two groups containing four teams and the other two groups containing three. The top team of the each group and the second placed teams of the groups containing four teams as well as Kashima and Shimizu were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game.
2004
All the sixteen J1 teams took part. At the group stage, the teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top two teams of the each group were qualified for the knock-out stage where the ties were single matches.
2005
All the eighteen J1 teams took part. Yokohama F. Marinos and Jubilo Iwata were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the AFC Champions League. The remaining sixteen teams were divided into four groups. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice. The top team of the each group and the two second-placed teams with the best records as well as Marinos and Iwata were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game. From this year's competition, the golden goal rule was abolished and the extra time was always played for thirty minutes.
2006
All the eighteen J1 teams took part. Gamba Osaka were exempted from the group stage because they participated in the 2006 AFC Champions League. The remaining seventeen teams were divided into four groups, three of them containing four teams and the other containing five teams. Each team played the other teams in the same group twice but only one game was played between some pairs of teams in the group containing five teams. The top team of the each group and the three second placed teams with the best records as well as Gamba Osaka were qualified for the knock-out stage. The ties were played over two matches (home and away) except the final where the winners were decided by a single game. The away goal rule was employed for this year's competition but it was not applied to a goal in the extra time.
2007
The format of the 2007 competition was similar to that of 2006's, but the number of clubs participating from the group stage has been decreased to 16 due to two clubs', Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Red Diamonds, participation in the 2007 AFC Champions League. See 2007 J. League Cup for details.
2008
The 2008 Final
The format of the 2008 competition was similar to that of 2007's. See 2008 J. League Cup for details.
2009
The format of the 2009 group stage was changed due to the number of clubs participating 2009 AFC Champions League increased from two to four. 14 remaining clubs were divided into two groups with seven clubs each, then two top clubs of each group were qualified for the knock-out stage. See 2009 J. League Cup for more details.
2010
The format of the 2010 competition was same as that of 2009's. See 2010 J. League Cup for details.
2011
Although the format of the 2011 competition is planned to be same as that of 2009's and 2010's, it was abandoned due to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and replaced by a format without group stage (five knockout stages only). See 2011 J. League Cup for details.
2012–2017
See 2012 J. League Cup, 2013 J. League Cup, 2014 J. League Cup, 2015 J. League Cup, 2016 J. League Cup, and 2017 J.League Cup for details.

As tournaments for J1 and J2 (2018–2023)[edit]

0 to 2 clubs (varies depending on the number of J1 teams participating in the ACL group stage) that were relegated to J2 last year and all J1 clubs can now participate. This is last season of group stage format in 2023.

As tournaments for J1, J2 and J3 (2024–)[edit]

All of the 60 J. League clubs will participate in knockout format from 2024.

For the 2024 season, the three Japanese clubs qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage (i.e. Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F. Marinos and Ventforet Kofu) will receive a bye to the knockout phase, while the remaining 57 J.League clubs are split into 10 groups of 5 or 6 for the first three rounds (known as the "first stage") based on their performance in the 2023 season, with the winners of each single leg single-elimination group will advance to the two-legged play-off round. The 5 winners of the play-off round will join the 3 aforementioned clubs in the knockout stage (known locally as the "prime stage"), in which the format unchanged comparing to the format in 2023.

Prizes[edit]

  • Champions: J. League Cup, YBC Levain Cup, Champion medals and 150 million yen
  • Runners-up: J. League Commemorative Plaque, Runner-up medals, and 50 million yen
  • 3rd place (2 clubs): J. League Commemorative Plaque and 20 million yen to each 3rd placed club

Finals[edit]

Year Winners Score Runners-up Venue
1992 Verdy Kawasaki 1–0 Shimizu S-Pulse National Stadium
1993 Verdy Kawasaki 2–1 Shimizu S-Pulse National Stadium
1994 Verdy Kawasaki 2–0 Júbilo Iwata Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium
1995 Not played
1996 Shimizu S-Pulse 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Verdy Kawasaki National Stadium
1997 Kashima Antlers 7–2 agg.
2–1
5–1
Júbilo Iwata First leg: Yamaha Stadium
Second leg: Kashima Soccer Stadium
1998 Júbilo Iwata 4–0 JEF United Ichihara National Stadium
1999 Kashiwa Reysol 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Kashima Antlers National Stadium
2000 Kashima Antlers 2–0 Kawasaki Frontale National Stadium
2001 Yokohama F. Marinos 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)
Júbilo Iwata National Stadium
2002 Kashima Antlers 1–0 Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium
2003 Urawa Red Diamonds 4–0 Kashima Antlers National Stadium
2004 FC Tokyo 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium
2005 JEF United Chiba 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Gamba Osaka National Stadium
2006 JEF United Chiba 2–0 Kashima Antlers National Stadium
2007 Gamba Osaka 1–0 Kawasaki Frontale National Stadium
2008 Oita Trinita 2–0 Shimizu S-Pulse National Stadium
2009 FC Tokyo 2–0 Kawasaki Frontale National Stadium
2010 Júbilo Iwata 5–3 (a.e.t.) Sanfrecce Hiroshima National Stadium
2011 Kashima Antlers 1–0 (a.e.t.) Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium
2012 Kashima Antlers 2–1 (a.e.t.) Shimizu S-Pulse National Stadium
2013 Kashiwa Reysol 1–0 Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium
2014 Gamba Osaka 3–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Saitama Stadium 2002
2015 Kashima Antlers 3–0 Gamba Osaka Saitama Stadium 2002
2016 Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Gamba Osaka Saitama Stadium 2002
2017 Cerezo Osaka 2–0 Kawasaki Frontale Saitama Stadium 2002
2018 Shonan Bellmare 1–0 Yokohama F. Marinos Saitama Stadium 2002
2019 Kawasaki Frontale 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo Saitama Stadium 2002
2020 FC Tokyo 2–1 Kashiwa Reysol National Stadium
2021 Nagoya Grampus 2–0 Cerezo Osaka Saitama Stadium 2002
2022 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–1 Cerezo Osaka National Stadium
2023 Avispa Fukuoka 2–1 Urawa Red Diamonds National Stadium
2024 National Stadium

Performances by team[edit]

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Kashima Antlers
6
3
1997, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2015 1999, 2003, 2006
Tokyo Verdy
3
1
1992, 1993, 1994 1996
FC Tokyo
3
0
2004, 2009, 2020
Urawa Red Diamonds
2
5
2003, 2016 2002, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2023
Júbilo Iwata
2
3
1998, 2010 1994, 1997, 2001
Gamba Osaka
2
3
2007, 2014 2005, 2015, 2016
JEF United Chiba
2
1
2005, 2006 1998
Kashiwa Reysol
2
1
1999, 2013 2020
Shimizu S-Pulse
1
4
1996 1992, 1993, 2008, 2012
Kawasaki Frontale
1
4
2019 2000, 2007, 2009, 2017
Cerezo Osaka
1
2
2017 2021, 2022
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
1
2
2022 2010, 2014
Yokohama F. Marinos
1
1
2001 2018
Oita Trinita
1
0
2008
Shonan Bellmare
1
0
2018
Nagoya Grampus
1
0
2021
Avispa Fukuoka
1
0
2023
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
0
1
2019

Most valuable players[edit]

Year Winner Club Nationality
1992 Kazuyoshi Miura Verdy Kawasaki  Japan
1993 Bismarck Verdy Kawasaki  Brazil
1994 Bismarck Verdy Kawasaki  Brazil
1996 Santos Shimizu S-Pulse  Brazil
1997 Jorginho Kashima Antlers  Brazil
1998 Nobuo Kawaguchi Júbilo Iwata  Japan
1999 Takeshi Watanabe Kashiwa Reysol  Japan
2000 Koji Nakata Kashima Antlers  Japan
2001 Tatsuya Enomoto Yokohama F. Marinos  Japan
2002 Mitsuo Ogasawara Kashima Antlers  Japan
2003 Tatsuya Tanaka Urawa Red Diamonds  Japan
2004 Yoichi Doi FC Tokyo  Japan
2005 Tomonori Tateishi JEF United Chiba  Japan
2006 Koki Mizuno JEF United Chiba  Japan
2007 Michihiro Yasuda Gamba Osaka  Japan
2008 Daiki Takamatsu Oita Trinita  Japan
2009 Takuji Yonemoto FC Tokyo  Japan
2010 Ryoichi Maeda Júbilo Iwata  Japan
2011 Yuya Osako Kashima Antlers  Japan
2012 Gaku Shibasaki Kashima Antlers  Japan
2013 Masato Kudo Kashiwa Reysol  Japan
2014 Patric Gamba Osaka  Brazil
2015 Mitsuo Ogasawara Kashima Antlers  Japan
2016 Tadanari Lee Urawa Red Diamonds  Japan
2017 Kenyu Sugimoto Cerezo Osaka  Japan
2018 Daiki Sugioka Shonan Bellmare  Japan
2019 Shota Arai Kawasaki Frontale  Japan
2020 Leandro FC Tokyo  Brazil
2021 Sho Inagaki Nagoya Grampus  Japan
2022 Pieros Sotiriou Sanfrecce Hiroshima  Cyprus

New Hero Award[edit]

This award is presented to an under-23 player who made the biggest contribution to his team in the competition. The winner is decided based on votes from football journalists.

Year Winner Club
1996 Hiroshi Nanami Júbilo Iwata
Toshihide Saito Shimizu S-Pulse
1997 Atsuhiro Miura Yokohama Flügels
1998 Naohiro Takahara Júbilo Iwata
1999 Yukihiko Sato FC Tokyo
2000 Takayuki Suzuki Kashima Antlers
2001 Hitoshi Sogahata Kashima Antlers
2002 Keisuke Tsuboi Urawa Red Diamonds
2003 Tatsuya Tanaka Urawa Red Diamonds
2004 Makoto Hasebe Urawa Red Diamonds
2005 Yuki Abe JEF United Chiba
2006 Hiroyuki Taniguchi Kawasaki Frontale
2007 Michihiro Yasuda Gamba Osaka
2008 Mu Kanazaki Oita Trinita
2009 Takuji Yonemoto FC Tokyo
2010 Yojiro Takahagi Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2011 Genki Haraguchi Urawa Red Diamonds
2012 Hideki Ishige Shimizu S-Pulse
2013 Manabu Saitō Yokohama F. Marinos
2014 Takashi Usami Gamba Osaka
2015 Shuhei Akasaki Kashima Antlers
2016 Yosuke Ideguchi Gamba Osaka
2017 Takuma Nishimura Vegalta Sendai
2018 Keita Endo Yokohama F. Marinos
2019 Keito Nakamura Gamba Osaka
2020 Ayumu Seko Cerezo Osaka
2021 Zion Suzuki Urawa Red Diamonds
2022 Sota Kitano Cerezo Osaka

Broadcasters[edit]

Japan[edit]

All matches of the competition is currently broadcast live by Abema (via beIN Sports), Fuji TV, and SKY PerfecTV! respectively.

Outside Japan[edit]

YouTube only broadcast live coverage in prime stage matches through both official J.League International (exc. Thailand) and Siam Sport (Thailand only) channels.[2] Starts 2024 season, Rajawali Televisi broadcast live coverage of all matches for Indonesia, Record will also broadcast live coverage of all matches for Brazil, and TV3 will also broadcast live coverage of all matches for Malaysia.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2016 J.League Cup renamed to J.League YBC Levain Cup". J. League. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ^ "2020 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP Prime Stage to be broadcasted overseas:en". J.League. Retrieved 2020-09-01.

External links[edit]