# Australia–Japan football rivalry

The Australia–Japan football rivalry is a sports rivalry that exists between the national association football teams of each country, regarded as one of Asia's biggest football rivalries. The rivalry is a relatively recent one, born from several highly competitive matches between the two teams since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006. The two teams have played each other in several significant matches, including a World Cup group stage match, the 2011 Asian Cup final and have been drawn in the same group in five consecutive World Cup qualification campaigns.

## Origins

The first match between the two teams was played at the 1956 Olympics, ending in a 2–0 win for the Australians. Another dozen matches were played between Australia and Japan until a semi-final match at the 2001 Confederations Cup which ended in a 1–0 for Japan, but the match-up only emerged as a rivalry after 2006, when Australia joined the AFC, especially the FIFA World Cup qualification games. The first match between the two sides after this was during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a group stage game where Australia was still technically competing as Oceania representatives. With just six minutes left, Japan led by a single goal, only for Australia to score thrice in succession to secure their first-ever win in a World Cup finals match in what is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history.
Several fierce qualifying matches over the next few years enhanced the rivalry, and Japan got revenge for their World Cup defeat by knocking the Socceroos out of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup at the quarter-finals on penalties. In 2011, Japan again beat the Socceroos in an Asian Cup, this time in the final with a solitary goal in extra time sealing the title.

## Men's matches

| No. | Date | Competition | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue |
| 1 | 27 November 1956 | 1956 Olympic Games | Australia | 2–0 | Japan | Olympic Park, Melbourne |
| 2 | 30 March 1968 | International friendly | Australia | 2–2 | Japan | Sydney Showground, Sydney |
| 3 | 31 March 1968 | International friendly | Australia | 3–1 | Japan | Olympic Park, Melbourne |
| 4 | 4 April 1968 | International friendly | Australia | 1–3 | Japan | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide |
| 5 | 10 October 1969 | 1970 World Cup qualification | Japan | 1–3 | Australia | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
| 6 | 16 October 1969 | 1970 World Cup qualification | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul |
| 7 | 22 May 1994 | Kirin Cup | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Big Arch Stadium, Hiroshima |
| 8 | 29 September 1994 | International Friendly | Japan | 0–0 | Australia | National Stadium, Tokyo |
| 9 | 15 February 1995 | International Friendly | Australia | 2–1 | Japan | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
| 10 | 10 February 1996 | International Friendly | Australia | 1–4 | Japan | Brandon Park, Wollongong |
| 11 | 14 February 1996 | International Friendly | Australia | 3–0 | Japan | Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne |
| 12 | 15 February 1998 | International Friendly | Australia | 0–3 | Japan | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide |
| 13 | 8 June 2001 | 2001 Confederations Cup | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | International Stadium, Yokohama |
| 14 | 15 August 2001 | AFC–OFC Challenge Cup | Japan | 3–0 | Australia | Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka |
| 15 | 12 June 2006 | 2006 World Cup | Australia | 3–1 | Japan | Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern |
| 16 | 21 July 2007 | 2007 Asian Cup quarter-finals | Japan | 1–1 (4–3) | Australia | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi |
| 17 | 11 February 2009 | 2010 World Cup qualification | Japan | 0–0 | Australia | International Stadium, Yokohama |
| 18 | 17 June 2009 | 2010 World Cup qualification | Australia | 2–1 | Japan | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| 19 | 29 January 2011 | 2011 Asian Cup final | Australia | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Japan | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha |
| 20 | 12 June 2012 | 2014 World Cup qualification | Australia | 1–1 | Japan | Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane |
| 21 | 4 June 2013 | 2014 World Cup qualification | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama |
| 22 | 25 July 2013 | 2013 East Asian Cup | Japan | 3–2 | Australia | Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong |
| 23 | 18 November 2014 | International Friendly | Japan | 2–1 | Australia | Nagai Stadium, Osaka |
| 24 | 11 October 2016 | 2018 World Cup qualification | Australia | 1–1 | Japan | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne |
| 25 | 31 August 2017 | 2018 World Cup qualification | Japan | 2–0 | Australia | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama |
| 26 | 12 October 2021 | 2022 World Cup qualification | Japan | 2–1 | Australia | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama |
| 27 | 24 March 2022 | 2022 World Cup qualification | Australia | 0–2 | Japan | Stadium Australia, Sydney |
| 28 | 15 October 2024 | 2026 World Cup qualification | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama |
| 29 | 5 June 2025 | 2026 World Cup qualification | Australia | | Japan | Perth Stadium, Perth |

## Women's matches

Like their men's counterparts, the two nations also have a strong rivalry in the women's game, with both Australia and Japan among Asia's highest ranked nations. Although the first matches started in the 1980s, the two have met regularly in both friendly and competitive matches, in particular having competed often in the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Since Australia joined Asian Football Confederation in 2006, both Matildas and Nadeshiko became two of the only three Asian nations to finish in the top four of the FIFA Women's World Cup (Japan crowned champions in 2011 and runners-up in 2015 while Australia finish fourth in the 2023 edition).
| No. | Date | Competition | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue |
| 1 | 22 October 1984 | Xi'an Women's Tournament | Australia | 6–2 | Japan | Xi'an |
| 2 | 8 December 1984 | World Invitational | Australia | 2–2 | Japan | Taipei |
| 3 | 4 December 1989 | Prima Cup | Japan | 2–2 | Australia | Kanagawa |
| 4 | 5 December 1989 | Prima Cup | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Kanagawa |
| 5 | 27 September 1994 | Friendly | Japan | 2–2 | Australia | Tokyo |
| 6 | 9 July 1996 | Friendly | Japan | 2–2 | Australia | Fort Lauderdale |
| 7 | 31 May 2000 | Pacific Cup | Australia | 1–0 | Japan | Bruce Stadium, Canberra |
| 8 | 6 April 2002 | Tournoi International de France | Australia | 1–1 | Japan | Stade Lebon, Angoulême |
| 9 | 27 July 2003 | Three Nations Tournament | Japan | 0–0 | Australia | Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai |
| 10 | 26 March 2005 | Two Match Friendly Series | Australia | 0–2 | Japan | Sydney Olympic Stadium, Sydney |
| 11 | 29 March 2005 | Two Match Friendly Series | Australia | 2–1 | Japan | Seymour Shaw Park, Sydney |
| 12 | 23 July 2005 | Friendly | Japan | 4–2 | Australia | Tokyo |
| 13 | 27 July 2006 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Australia | 2–0 | Japan | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide |
| 14 | 19 November 2006 | Friendly | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | Tokyo |
| 15 | 2 June 2008 | 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Australia | 1–3 | Japan | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City |
| 16 | 8 June 2008 | 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Australia | 0–3 | Japan | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City |
| 17 | 24 July 2008 | Friendly | Japan | 3–0 | Australia | Kobe |
| 18 | 27 May 2010 | 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Japan | 0–1 | Australia | Chengdu Sports Centre. Chengdu |
| 19 | 5 September 2011 | 2012 Summer Olympics qualification | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | Shandong Provincial Stadium, Jinan |
| 20 | 11 July 2012 | Friendly | Japan | 3–0 | Australia | National Stadium (Tokyo), Tokyo |
| 21 | 14 May 2014 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Australia | 2–2 | Japan | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City |
| 22 | 25 May 2014 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City |
| 23 | 27 June 2015 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup | Australia | 0–1 | Japan | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
| 24 | 29 February 2016 | 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament | Australia | 3–1 | Japan | Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Osaka |
| 25 | 30 July 2017 | 2017 Tournament of Nations | Japan | 2–4 | Australia | San Diego Stadium, San Diego |
| 26 | 13 April 2018 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Japan | 1–1 | Australia | Amman International Stadium, Amman |
| 27 | 20 April 2018 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | Amman International Stadium, Amman |
| 28 | 2 August 2018 | 2018 Tournament of Nations | Australia | 2–0 | Japan | SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview |
| 29 | 14 July 2021 | Friendly | Japan | 1–0 | Australia | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera, Kameoka |
| 30 | 20 February 2025 | SheBelieves Cup | Japan | 4–0 | Australia | Shell Energy Stadium, Houston |

## Overall

    As of 15 October 2024
| Men's team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Australia | 28 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 33 | 40 | –8 |
| Japan | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 40 | 33 | +8 |
    As of 24 March 2022
| Women's team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Australia | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 47 | -10 |
| Japan | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 47 | 37 | +10 |

## Top scorers

    As of 15 October 2024
Players in bold are still available for selection.
| Rank | Player | Goals |
| 1 | Tim Cahill | 5 |
| 2 | Kunishige Kamamoto | 4 |
| 3 | Tommy McColl | 3 |
| 6 | John Aloisi | 2 |
| Ray Baartz |
| Takashi Hirano |
| Hidetoshi Nakata |
| Kaoru Mitoma |
| Takuya Takagi |
| Yuya Osako |