Tournaments · FIFA World Cup
Japan at the FIFA World Cup
Every qualifying campaign and finals appearance · 1930–present
2026 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round, Group B | AFC | 6 | Progressed to Third Round / Qualified for 2027 AFC Asian Cup |
| Third Round, Group C | AFC | 10 | Qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group F | FIFA | 3 | — |
2022 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round, Group F | AFC | 8 | Progressed to Third Round / Qualified for 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| Third Round, Group B | AFC | 10 | Qualified for 2022 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group E | FIFA | 3 | Progressed to Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 | FIFA | 1 | Exited at Round of 16 |
2018 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round, Group E | AFC | 8 | Progressed to Third Round / Qualified for 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| Third Round, Group B | AFC | 10 | Qualified for 2018 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group H | FIFA | 3 | Progressed to Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 | FIFA | 1 | Exited at Round of 16 |
2014 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Third Round, Group C | AFC | 6 | Progressed to Fourth Round |
| Fourth Round, Group B | AFC | 8 | Qualified for 2014 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group C | FIFA | 3 | Exited at Group Stage |
2010 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Third Round, Group 2 | AFC | 6 | Progressed to Fourth Round |
| Fourth Round, Group A | AFC | 8 | Qualified for 2010 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group E | FIFA | 3 | Progressed to Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 | FIFA | 1 | Exited at Round of 16 |
2006 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round | AFC | — | Bye |
| Second Round, Group 3 | AFC | 6 | Progressed to Third Round |
| Third Round, Group 2 | AFC | 6 | Qualified for 2006 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group F | FIFA | 3 | Exited at Group Stage |
2002 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | AFC | — | Qualified for 2002 FIFA World Cup(Japan qualified as co-hosts with South Korea) |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group H | FIFA | 3 | Progressed to Round of 16 |
| Round of 16 | FIFA | 1 | Exited at Round of 16 |
1998 FIFA World CupFINALS
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round, Group 4 | AFC | 6 | Progressed to Second Round |
| Second Round, Group B | AFC | 8 | Progressed to Third Round |
| Third Round | AFC | 1 | Qualified for 1998 FIFA World Cup |
Finals
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group H | FIFA | 3 | Exited at Group Stage |
1994 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round, Group F | AFC | 8 | Progressed to Final Round |
| Final Round | AFC | 5 | Did Not Qualify |
1990 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round, Group 6 | AFC | 6 | Did Not Qualify |
1986 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| First Round, Group 4B | AFC | 4 | Progressed to Final Round |
| Final Round | AFC | 2 | Did Not Qualify |
1982 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Classification Match | AFC | 1 | Progressed to Group Stage |
| Group 4A | AFC | 2 | Progressed to Semi-Final |
| Semi-Final | AFC | 1 | Did Not Qualify |
1978 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Group 2 | AFC/OFC | 4 | Did Not Qualify |
1974 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Classification Match | AFC/OFC | 1 | Progressed to Group Stage |
| Group 1 | AFC/OFC | 2 | Progressed to Semi-Final |
| Semi-Final | AFC/OFC | 1 | Did Not Qualify |
1970 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Round 1 | AFC/OFC | 4 | Did Not Qualify |
1966 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | AFC/CAF | — | Did Not Enter(Did not enter) |
1962 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | AFC | 2 | Did Not Qualify |
1958 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | AFC/CAF | — | Did Not Enter(Did not enter) |
1954 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | FIFA | 2 | Did Not Qualify |
1950 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| — | FIFA | — | Suspended(Suspended from FIFA 1945-1950) |
1938 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| Qualifying | FIFA | — | Withdrew(Withdrew before qualifying match vs Dutch East Indies) |
1930 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying
| Stage | Organiser | Matches | Outcome |
|---|
| — | FIFA | — | Withdrew(Invited but withdrew) |
Source: FIFA / AFC. Organiser indicates which confederation administered each round.
