How long has it been since Japan won a major trophy?

Japan last won a major trophy at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. As of today that is 15 years and 5 months ago.

Japan Trophy Drought | Time Since Last AFC Asian Cup Win (Live Counter)

Japan's trophy history

Japan is the most successful nation in Asian Cup history, with four titles — 1992, 2000, 2004, and their most recent in 2011, when they beat Australia 1-0 after extra time in a final settled by a spectacular volley from Tadanari Lee. That win came just months after the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and the team dedicated the victory to the disaster's victims. Japan's Asian Cup dominance has coincided with the broader professionalization of Japanese football since the J.League launched in 1993, and the national team has become one of the most consistent World Cup qualifiers in Asia, reaching the round of 16 on several occasions, including memorable wins over Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup.

All major titles

Competition	Titles won
FIFA World Cup	0
AFC Asian Cup	4

Major finals

Year	Competition	Result	Detail
2000	AFC Asian Cup	Won	1-0 vs Saudi Arabia
2004	AFC Asian Cup	Won	3-1 vs China
2011	AFC Asian Cup	Won	1-0 (aet) vs Australia
2019	AFC Asian Cup	Runner-up	Lost 3-1 to Qatar

Legendary players

Hidetoshi Nakata — Japan's first global football star, key to their breakthrough era in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Keisuke Honda — Talismanic playmaker across three World Cups and a key figure in Japan's 2011 Asian Cup win.
Tadanari Lee — Scored the winning volley in the 2011 Asian Cup final against Australia.
Takefusa Kubo — Modern-era star who helped Japan beat Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup.

Interesting facts

Japan's four Asian Cup titles are the most of any nation in the tournament's history.
Japan's 2011 Asian Cup win came just months after the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and was dedicated to the disaster's victims.
Japan beat both Germany and Spain in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, a result that stunned the football world.
Japan has not won the Asian Cup since 2011, losing the 2019 final to Qatar.

Frequently asked questions

How many Asian Cup titles has Japan won?

Four, the most of any nation: 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2011.

When did Japan last win the Asian Cup?

2011, beating Australia 1-0 after extra time.

How did Japan do at the 2022 World Cup?

They reached the round of 16, having beaten both Germany and Spain in the group stage.

Why was Japan's 2011 Asian Cup win especially meaningful?

It came months after the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and the team dedicated the title to the disaster's victims.

How Long Since Japan Won an AFC Asian Cup?

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