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 . <EOS>