A matching system which includes a server and a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to the server over a network and which performs matchmaking, in any of a plurality of matching ranges, for a participating user attempting to perform predetermined information processing while the information processing apparatuses are communicating information, the matching system comprising: in each information processing apparatus: a related user presenting section for presenting to the participating user a related user related to the participating user based on related user information stored in a related user memory; a related user specification receiving section for receiving, from the participating user, specification of the related user; a transmitting section for transmitting the related user specification to the server; and a receiving section for receiving matching range identification from the server; in the server: a receiving section for receiving the related user identification; a transmission section for transmitting matching range identification; a matching range identification section for identifying a matching range that is associated with the related user whose specification has been received by the related user specification receiving section, at least one matching range being stored for each user in a user information storage section; and a matching processing section for performing matchmaking for the participating user in the matching range identified by the matching range identification section. in each information processing apparatus: a related user presenting section for presenting to the participating user a related user related to the participating user based on related user information stored in a related user memory; a related user specification receiving section for receiving, from the participating user, specification of the related user; a transmitting section for transmitting the related user specification to the server; and a receiving section for receiving matching range identification from the server; a related user presenting section for presenting to the participating user a related user related to the participating user based on related user information stored in a related user memory; a related user specification receiving section for receiving, from the participating user, specification of the related user; a transmitting section for transmitting the related user specification to the server; and a receiving section for receiving matching range identification from the server; in the server: a receiving section for receiving the related user identification; a transmission section for transmitting matching range identification; a matching range identification section for identifying a matching range that is associated with the related user whose specification has been received by the related user specification receiving section, at least one matching range being stored for each user in a user information storage section; and a matching processing section for performing matchmaking for the participating user in the matching range identified by the matching range identification section. a receiving section for receiving the related user identification; a transmission section for transmitting matching range identification; a matching range identification section for identifying a matching range that is associated with the related user whose specification has been received by the related user specification receiving section, at least one matching range being stored for each user in a user information storage section; and a matching processing section for performing matchmaking for the participating user in the matching range identified by the matching range identification section.