Japan 1998 – Home

The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France marked Japan's debut in the tournament, and it was a significant moment for Japanese football. Under the management of Takeshi Okada, Japan aimed to make a positive impression on the global stage.

Group Stage: Japan was drawn into Group H along with Argentina, Croatia, and Jamaica. The team faced a challenging group, and their first-ever World Cup match was against Argentina on June 14, 1998. Japan lost the match 1-0, with Mauricio Pineda scoring the only goal. In their second group match, Japan played to a 0-0 draw against Croatia. Their final group stage match against Jamaica ended in a 2-1 victory for Japan, with Masashi Nakayama scoring both goals.

Despite the victory against Jamaica, Japan finished third in their group, failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Key Players: Some notable players in the Japan squad during the 1998 World Cup included Hidetoshi Nakata, who would go on to have a successful career in Europe, and Masashi Nakayama, who scored Japan's first-ever World Cup goals.

Legacy: While Japan did not progress beyond the group stage in their debut World Cup appearance, the experience was valuable for the development of football in the country. The participation in the tournament helped raise the profile of Japanese football on the international stage and contributed to the growth of the sport domestically.

Japan's journey in the 1998 World Cup laid the foundation for their subsequent participations in the tournament. Over the years, Japan has become a consistent presence in the World Cup, and the sport has continued to gain popularity and success at both the national and club levels in the country.