What is the JFA?
The Japan Football Association (JFA) is the national football association of Japan. FIFA lists it as its member for Japan, in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with its website at jfa.jp.[1] Its English-language site presents itself as “The official website of the Japan Football Association (JFA)” and sets out a “JFA Ideal” of realising, through football, the full benefits that sports can bring to people’s lives.[2]
What does the JFA govern or do?
The association is responsible for Japan’s national teams and for the registration of players, coaches and referees in football and futsal; its sustainability data report gives registration figures in each of these categories.[4] It also runs a referee registration system, which its English site links to.[2]
The association describes its relationship with its member bodies — the prefectural and regional football associations, the J.League and other federations — as “強固な関係”, strong ties.[4]
When was the JFA founded and where is it based?
The association states that it is a general incorporated foundation under the Act on General Incorporated Associations and Foundations, that its work to promote football is recognised as a public-interest activity, and that it holds public-interest corporation status.[4] FIFA lists Tsuneyasu Miyamoto as its president.[1]
How is the JFA recognised?
FIFA and the AFC. FIFA’s member-association page lists the Japan Football Association as its member for Japan, with the AFC as its confederation.[1]
Its own statement. The association states that it is the only football body affiliated with “国際サッカー連盟（FIFA）、アジアサッカー連盟（AFC）、東アジアサッカー連盟（EAFF）、日本スポーツ協会（JSPO）、日本オリンピック委員会（JOC）” — FIFA, the AFC, the East Asian Football Federation, the Japan Sport Association and the Japanese Olympic Committee.[4]
What does the JFA organise?
Emperor’s Cup. The association’s site carries the “Emperor’s Cup JFA 106th Japan Football Championship” (天皇杯 JFA 第106回全日本サッカー選手権大会), described as the competition that decides Japan’s football champion. The 106th edition began on 19 August 2026 and is scheduled to finish on 1 January 2027.[3]
National teams. FIFA’s page records the men’s and women’s national teams’ appearances at FIFA tournaments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[1]
Who are its members?
The association names its member bodies as the 47 prefectural football associations, the 9 regional football associations, the J.League and various federations.[4]
Its sustainability data report, whose stated reporting period is January to December 2019, gives 878,072 registered players in football teams and 41,424 in futsal teams, 84,352 registered football coaches and 10,433 team managers, and 281,125 registered football referees and 24,061 futsal referees.[4]
References
- FIFA — Member associations: Japan Football Association. Accessed 2026-10-12.
- JFA — Japan Football Association, English-language site. Accessed 2026-10-12.
- JFA — Emperor’s Cup JFA 106th Japan Football Championship (2026). Accessed 2026-10-12.
- JFA — ESG data / GRI content index (reporting period January–December 2019), PDF. Accessed 2026-10-12.