Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry

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Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry
Japan–United States final match at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Other namesUSA vs. Japan
Japan vs. USA
USWNT vs. Nadeshiko Japan
Teams Japan
 United States
First meetingUnited States 3–1 Japan
1986 Mundialito
Jesolo, Italy
(25 July 1986)
Latest meetingUnited States 3–1 Japan
2020 SheBelieves Cup
Frisco, United States
(11 March 2020)
Next meetingNone Announced
Statistics
Meetings total38
Most winsUnited States (29)
All-time seriesUnited States: 29
Draws: 8
Japan: 1
Largest victoryUnited States 9–0 Japan
Friendly
Charlotte, United States
(29 April 1999)
Longest win streakUnited States (13)
Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry is located in Earth
Japan
Japan
United States
United
States

The Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry is a sports rivalry between the national women's football (soccer) teams of Japan and the United States, two of the most successful women's football nations in the world, having achieved eight straight Women's World Cup appearances between the two countries. However, the United States has dominated Japan since 1986, having won 28 of the 37 matches. The U.S. maintained a 13-match winning streak from 1986 through 2000. Japan upsets the U.S. 1–0, their first ever win in regulation for Japan,[1] and subsequently the Algarve Cup final against Germany, but finished as the runners-up after a 4–3 loss.[2]

Japan and the United States have played against each other four times in the Women's World Cup. Most notably, the 2011 World Cup Final in which Japan won 3–1 on penalties, after a 2–2 draw in extra time, and the 2015 World Cup Final, winning 5–2 by the U.S., as well as the gold medal game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, winning 2–1 also by the U.S., the quarterfinals of the 1995 World Cup, and the final group stage match of the 1991 World Cup. Overall, the U.S. has won four World Cups in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019, while Japan has won one World Cup in 2011.

The last meeting was on 19 February 2023 at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (2023 SheBelieves Cup).

History[edit]

Early encounters[edit]

The first meeting of the teams occurred on July 25, 1986 at the Mundialito in Jesolo, Italy. The United States secured a 3–1 win, with one goal from April Heinrichs and a double from substitute Marcia McDermott.[3] Futaba Kioka scored for Japan.[4] At the Women's World Invitational Tournament (known as the Chunghua Cup), staged by Taiwan in December 1987, the United States beat Japan 1–0 with a goal scored by the defender Lori Henry.[3][note 1]

The United States defeated Japan 5–2 at the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament in Panyu on June 1, 1988, as Carin Jennings-Gabarra scored a hat-trick.[5] American coach Anson Dorrance characterized the Japan of that era as: "a team that was equally inexperienced like we were but lacking our athleticism and size".[6]

After comfortable wins over Japan at both the 1991 and 1995 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup, 3–0 and 4–0 respectively, the United States embarked on a three-match tour of Japan in May 1998. Coach Tony DiCicco described Japan as "one of our major Asian challengers" and "one of the most improved teams since the 1991 World Cup".[7] The United States won all three games and when Japan attended Charlotte, North Carolina for another friendly in April 1999 DiCicco's team inflicted a record-equalling 9–0 defeat.[8]

Japan avoided defeat by the United States for the first time on the occasion of their 14th meeting, a 1–1 friendly match at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona on 17 December 2000. The game was arranged as a farewell fixture for the retiring Carla Overbeck. A fatigued United States team, playing in a record 41st match of the year, dominated but conceded an equalizer to Homare Sawa after Brandi Chastain's opener.[9]

The next two friendly fixtures were also drawn as Japan began a gradual transition of "going from pushover to potent rival".[10]

Respectful rivalry[edit]

The formerly one-sided rivalry became closer in the period following Japan's upset penalty shoot-out win in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.[11] Even while contesting three major tournament finals in four years, the teams' rivalry remained conspicuously respectful.[12][13] In the immediate aftermath of the 2011 final, Carli Lloyd graciously congratulated the winners.[14] While Aya Miyama delayed her participation in the celebrations to hug her defeated opponents.[15]

Japan's 2011 captain Homare Sawa was particularly well disposed towards the United States as she had enjoyed several years living and playing professional soccer there.[16] Sawa reflected the culture of the Japanese team, which has been described as "polite restraint" and contrasted with the more forthright culture of the American team.[17] She had formed an enduring friendship with American center-forward Abby Wambach when the two played together at Washington Freedom.[18]

So while it's easier to get behind a rivalry rooted in bad blood and scores to settle, USA and Japan offers something else: A rematch and rivalry ferocious on the field, but also friendly. A match of disparate styles, but mutual admiration — and a mutual goal: the World Cup crown.

—Cory Collins, Sporting News[15]

In March 2012 Japan secured their first ever win (within regulation time) against the United States, in Faro, Portugal at the 2012 Algarve Cup. Megumi Takase's headed 84th-minute goal secured a 1–0 victory and Japan's progression to the final.[19] In April 2012 the United States travelled to play a friendly match in Japan, where they visited the area affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and left gifts for local schoolchildren. Although the match was drawn, American players including Carli Lloyd and Heather O'Reilly conceded that the Japanese players had superior technique while the Americans relied on fitness and aggression.[10]

List of matches[edit]

# Date Venue Competition Result
1 25 July 1986 Italy Jesolo 1986 Mundialito United States  3–1  Japan
2 12 December 1987 Taiwan Taipei City 1987 Chunghua Cup United States  1–0  Japan
3 1 June 1988 China Panyu 1988 International Women's Football Tournament United States  5–2  Japan
4 21 November 1991 China Foshan 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup Japan  0–3  United States
5 10 July 1993 Canada Hamilton Friendly United States  7–0  Japan
6 13 June 1995 Sweden Gävle 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup United States  4–0  Japan
7 16 May 1996 United States Horsham 1996 U.S. Cup United States  4–0  Japan
8 17 May 1998 Japan Tokyo Friendly Japan  1–2  United States
9 21 May 1998 Japan Kobe Japan  0–2  United States
10 24 May 1998 Japan Tokyo Japan  0–3  United States
11 29 April 1999 United States Charlotte United States  9–0  Japan
12 2 May 1999 United States Atlanta United States  7–0  Japan
13 7 June 2000 Australia Newcastle United States  4–1  Japan
14 17 December 2000 United States Phoenix United States  1–1  Japan
15 12 January 2003 United States San Diego United States  0–0  Japan
16 6 June 2004 United States Louisville United States  1–1  Japan
17 20 August 2004 Greece Thessaloniki 2004 Summer Olympics United States  2–1  Japan
18 7 May 2006 Japan Kumamoto Friendly Japan  1–3  United States
19 9 May 2006 Japan Osaka Japan  0–1  United States
20 28 July 2007 United States San Jose United States  4–1  Japan
21 9 August 2008 China Qinhuangdao 2008 Summer Olympics United States  1–0  Japan
22 18 August 2008 China Beijing United States  4–2  Japan
23 2 March 2011 Portugal Vila Real de Santo António 2011 Algarve Cup United States  2–1  Japan
24 14 May 2011 United States Columbus Friendly United States  2–0  Japan
25 18 May 2011 United States Cary United States  2–0  Japan
26 17 July 2011 Germany Frankfurt 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup United States  2–2
[a] 		 Japan
27 5 March 2012 Portugal Faro 2012 Algarve Cup Japan  1–0  United States
28 1 April 2012 Japan Sendai Friendly Japan  1–1  United States
29 18 June 2012 Sweden Halmstad United States  4–1  Japan
30 9 August 2012 United Kingdom London 2012 Summer Olympics United States  2–1  Japan
31 5 March 2014 Portugal Parchal 2014 Algarve Cup Japan  1–1  United States
32 5 July 2015 Canada Vancouver 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup United States  5–2  Japan
33 2 June 2016 United States Commerce City Friendly United States  3–3  Japan
34 5 June 2016 United States Cleveland United States  2–0  Japan
35 3 August 2017 United States Carson 2017 Tournament of Nations United States  3–0  Japan
36 26 July 2018 United States Kansas City, Kansas 2018 Tournament of Nations United States  4–2  Japan
37 27 February 2019 United States Chester 2019 SheBelieves Cup United States  2–2  Japan
38 11 March 2020 United States Frisco 2020 SheBelieves Cup United States  3–1  Japan
39 19 February 2023 United States Nashville 2023 SheBelieves Cup United States  1–0  Japan
  1. ^ Japan won 3–1 on penalties.

Major tournaments[edit]

1991 FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

Japan 0–3 United States
(Report) Akers-Stahl 20', 37'
Gebauer 39'
Attendance: 14,000

1995 FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

United States 4–0 Japan
Lilly 8', 42'
Milbrett 45'
Venturini 80'		 (Report)
Attendance: 3,756

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

Main article: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final
Japan 2–2 (a.e.t.) United States
Miyama 81'
Sawa 117'		 Report Morgan 69'
Wambach 104'
Penalties
Miyama soccer ball with check mark
Nagasato soccer ball with red X
Sakaguchi soccer ball with check mark
Kumagai soccer ball with check mark		 3–1 soccer ball with red X Boxx
soccer ball with red X Lloyd
soccer ball with red X Heath
soccer ball with check mark Wambach
Attendance: 48,817

2012 Summer Olympics[edit]

Japan–United States gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
1st place, gold medalist(s) United States 2–1 Japan 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Lloyd 8', 54' Report Ōgimi 63'
Attendance: 80,203[21]

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup[edit]

Main article: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final
United States 5–2 Japan
Lloyd 3', 5', 16'
Holiday 14'
Heath 54'		 Report Ōgimi 27'
Johnston 52' (o.g.)
Attendance: 53,341

Statistics[edit]

Matches Wins Draws Goals
USA Japan USA Japan
FIFA Women's World Cup 4 3 0 1[a] 14 4
Olympic Games 4 4 0 0 9 4
All major tournaments 8 7 0 1 23 8
Friendly 19 14 0 5 58 11
Algarve Cup 3 1 1 1 3 3
Tournament of Nations 2 2 0 0 7 2
International Women's Football Tournament 1 1 0 0 5 2
U.S. Cup 1 1 0 0 4 0
Mundialito 1 1 0 0 3 1
Chunghua Cup 1 1 0 0 1 0
SheBelieves Cup 2 1 0 1 5 3
Total 38 29 1 8 109 30
  1. ^ Note: Japan defeated the United States at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final via penalty shoot-out.
Matches held in Japan 6
Matches held in neutral venue 17
Matches held in the United States 15
Total matches 38

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Other sources including RSSSF say that the United States was represented by a regional select team from the El Camino Women's Soccer League at this tournament.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Japan Edges U.S. Women's National Team 1–0 to Take First Place in Group B at 2012 Algarve Cup". United States Soccer Federation. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Deutschland – Japan 4:3 (2:1) Algarve-Cup". Deutscher Fußball-Bund. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b Farnsworth, Ed (28 February 2019). "USWNT Results: 1985-1989". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  4. ^ Japan Football Association(in Japanese)
  5. ^ "#TBT: Hat trick history in USWNT's 5-2 win over Japan | June 1, 1988". United States Soccer Federation. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ^ Lewis, Michael (6 June 2015). "Hand-me-downs, Snickers and warm Pepsi: the early years of US women's soccer". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  7. ^ "U.S. women to play three matches in Japan". Soccer America. 15 April 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. ^ Farnsworth, Ed (12 March 2019). "USWNT Results: 1995-1999". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. ^ "U.S. Women: World champs tie Japan in Overbeck's last game". Soccer America. 17 December 2000. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b Hersh, Philip (19 May 2012). "Small-sided soccer turns Japan into big-time women's program". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  11. ^ Das, Andrew (3 July 2015). "United States vs. Japan: A Rivalry Renewed". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  12. ^ Yang, Stephanie (7 March 2016). "Usual US finals foe Japan won't be at the 2016 Olympics". Stars and Stripes FC. SB Nation. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  13. ^ Yang, Steph; Linehan, Meg (20 July 2021). "USWNT rivalries through the years: From 'Viking bitches' to Marta's Brazil and the next group of contenders". The Athletic. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  14. ^ Longman, Jeré (17 July 2011). "A Resilient Team Soothes a Nation". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2021. If any other country was to win this, then I'm really happy and proud for Japan," Lloyd said. "Deep down inside, I really thought it was our destiny to win it. But maybe it was Japan's.
  15. ^ a b Collins, Cory (2 July 2015). "Women's World Cup, USA vs. Japan: Know your opponent". Sporting News. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Homare Sawa Interview". Idaho State University. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. ^ Weber, Joscha (17 July 2011). "US women limber up against surprise package Japan". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (16 December 2015). "Japan legend Homare Sawa announces retirement". The Equalizer. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Japan Edges U.S. Women's National Team 1-0 to Take First Place in Group B at 2012 Algarve Cup". United States Soccer Federation. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  20. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Final 2011: Steinhaus (GER)". refereeingworld.blogspot.com. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  21. ^ "United States – Japan". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
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