Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry explained

Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry
Other Names:USA vs. Japan
Japan vs. USA
USWNT vs. Nadeshiko Japan
First Contested:United States 3–1 Japan
1986 Mundialito
Jesolo, Italy
(25 July 1986)
Teams Involved:
Most Wins:United States (31)
Mostrecent:United States 1–0 Japan
2024 Summer Olympics
Paris, France
(3 August 2024)
Nextmeeting:TBD
Total:40
Series:United States: 31
Draws: 8
Japan: 1
Largestvictory:United States 9–0 Japan
Friendly
Charlotte, United States
(29 April 1999)
Longeststreak:United States (13)
Map Location:World
Map Label1:Japan
Map Label1 Position:left
Map Label2:United
States
Map Label2 Position:right
Coordinates1:36°N 139°W
Coordinates2:39°N -99°W

The Japan–United States women's soccer rivalry is a sports rivalry between the national women's 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 31 of the 40 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 3 August 2024 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

History

Early encounters

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.[5]

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.[6] 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".[7]

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".[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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

Respectful rivalry

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]

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.[20]

List of matches

DateVenueCompetitionResult
125 July 1986 Jesolo1986 Mundialitoalign=right 3–1align=left
212 December 1987 Taipei City1987 Chunghua Cupalign=right 1–0align=left
31 June 1988 Panyu1988 International Women's Football Tournamentalign=right 5–2align=left
421 November 1991 Foshan1991 FIFA Women's World Cupalign=right 0–3align=left
510 July 1993 HamiltonFriendlyalign=right 7–0align=left
613 June 1995 Gävle1995 FIFA Women's World Cupalign=right 4–0align=left
716 May 1996 Horsham1996 U.S. Cupalign=right 4–0align=left
817 May 1998 TokyoFriendlyalign=right 1–2align=left
921 May 1998 Kobealign=right 0–2align=left
1024 May 1998 Tokyoalign=right 0–3align=left
1129 April 1999 Charlottealign=right 9–0align=left
122 May 1999 Atlantaalign=right 7–0align=left
137 June 2000 Newcastlealign=right 4–1align=left
1417 December 2000 Phoenixalign=right 1–1align=left
1512 January 2003 San Diegoalign=right 0–0align=left
166 June 2004 Louisvillealign=right 1–1align=left
1720 August 2004 Thessaloniki2004 Summer Olympicsalign=right 2–1align=left
187 May 2006 KumamotoFriendlyalign=right 1–3align=left
199 May 2006 Osakaalign=right 0–1align=left
2028 July 2007 San Josealign=right 4–1align=left
219 August 2008 Qinhuangdao2008 Summer Olympicsalign=right 1–0align=left
2218 August 2008 Beijingalign=right 4–2align=left
232 March 2011 Vila Real de Santo António2011 Algarve Cupalign=right 2–1align=left
2414 May 2011 ColumbusFriendlyalign=right 2–0align=left
2518 May 2011 Caryalign=right 2–0align=left
2617 July 2011 Frankfurt2011 FIFA Women's World Cupalign=right 2–2
align=left
275 March 2012 Faro2012 Algarve Cupalign=right 1–0align=left
281 April 2012 SendaiFriendlyalign=right 1–1align=left
2918 June 2012 Halmstadalign=right 4–1align=left
309 August 2012 London2012 Summer Olympicsalign=right 2–1align=left
315 March 2014 Parchal2014 Algarve Cupalign=right 1–1align=left
325 July 2015 Vancouver2015 FIFA Women's World Cupalign=right 5–2align=left
332 June 2016 Commerce CityFriendlyalign=right 3–3align=left
345 June 2016 Clevelandalign=right 2–0align=left
353 August 2017 Carson2017 Tournament of Nationsalign=right 3–0align=left
3626 July 2018 Kansas City, Kansas2018 Tournament of Nationsalign=right 4–2align=left
3727 February 2019 Chester2019 SheBelieves Cupalign=right 2–2align=left
3811 March 2020 Frisco2020 SheBelieves Cupalign=right 3–1align=left
3919 February 2023 Nashville2023 SheBelieves Cupalign=right 1–0align=left
403 August 2024 Paris2024 Summer Olympicsalign=right 1–0align=left

Major tournaments

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

See main article: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

See main article: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup final.

2024 Summer Olympics

Statistics

MatchesWinsDrawsGoals
USAJapanUSAJapan
FIFA Women's World Cup4 3 0 1 14 4
Olympic Games5 4 0 0 10 4
All major tournaments8 7 0 1 23 8
Friendly19 14 0 5 58 11
Algarve Cup4 1 1 1 4 3
Tournament of Nations2 2 0 0 7 2
International Women's Football Tournament1 1 0 0 5 2
U.S. Cup1 1 0 0 4 0
Mundialito1 1 0 0 3 1
Chunghua Cup1 1 0 0 1 0
SheBelieves Cup2 1 0 1 5 3
Total40 31 1 8 111 30
width=250 Matches held in Japan 6
width=250 Matches held in neutral venue 18
width=250 Matches held in the United States 16
width=250 Total matches 40

See also

Notes

  1. News: 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 . 12 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508210751/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2012/03/japan-edges-wnt-to-take-first-place-in-group-b.aspx . 8 May 2012.
  2. Web site: Deutschland – Japan 4:3 (2:1) Algarve-Cup . Deutscher Fußball-Bund . 7 March 2012 . 13 June 2012 .
  3. Web site: Farnsworth . Ed . USWNT Results: 1985-1989 . 28 February 2019 . Society for American Soccer History . 15 May 2021.
  4. http://www.jfa.or.jp/archive/women/daihyo/data/WGame.pdf Japan Football Association
  5. 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.
  6. News: #TBT: Hat trick history in USWNT's 5-2 win over Japan June 1, 1988 . 15 May 2021 . . 10 September 2020.
  7. News: Lewis . Michael . Hand-me-downs, Snickers and warm Pepsi: the early years of US women's soccer . May 10, 2021 . . June 6, 2015.
  8. News: U.S. women to play three matches in Japan . 15 May 2021 . . 15 April 1998.
  9. Web site: Farnsworth . Ed . USWNT Results: 1995-1999 . 12 March 2019 . Society for American Soccer History . 15 May 2021.
  10. News: U.S. Women: World champs tie Japan in Overbeck's last game . 15 May 2021 . . 17 December 2000.
  11. News: Das . Andrew . United States vs. Japan: A Rivalry Renewed . 15 May 2021 . . 3 July 2015.
  12. News: Yang . Stephanie . Usual US finals foe Japan won't be at the 2016 Olympics . 15 May 2021 . Stars and Stripes FC . . 7 March 2016.
  13. News: Yang . Steph . Linehan . Meg . USWNT rivalries through the years: From 'Viking bitches' to Marta's Brazil and the next group of contenders . 21 July 2021 . The Athletic . 20 July 2021.
  14. News: Longman . Jeré . A Resilient Team Soothes a Nation . 15 May 2021 . . 17 July 2011 . "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. News: Collins . Cory . Women's World Cup, USA vs. Japan: Know your opponent . 15 May 2021 . . 2 July 2015.
  16. Web site: Homare Sawa Interview . . 15 May 2021.
  17. News: Weber . Joscha . US women limber up against surprise package Japan . 15 May 2021 . . 17 July 2011.
  18. News: Kassouf . Jeff . Japan legend Homare Sawa announces retirement . 15 May 2021 . The Equalizer . 16 December 2015.
  19. News: Japan Edges U.S. Women's National Team 1-0 to Take First Place in Group B at 2012 Algarve Cup . 15 May 2021 . . 5 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120307215659/https://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2012/03/Japan-Edges-WNT-to-Take-First-Place-in-Group-B.aspx . 7 March 2012.
  20. News: Hersh . Philip . Small-sided soccer turns Japan into big-time women's program . 15 May 2021 . . 19 May 2012.

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