June 19, 2012
HALMSTAD, Sweden--Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan each scored twice to give the United States a 4-1 win over Japan in its penultimate tuneup for the Olympics.
June 14, 2012
Manchester United-bound midfielder Shinji Kagawa wants to be the creative spark the 19-times English champions have been missing once he completes the formalities of his transfer to Old Trafford.
June 13, 2012
BEIJING--Two former Chinese soccer chiefs and several former national team players were handed lengthy jail sentences for taking bribes or match-fixing, state media reported on June 13, in a move to clean up rampant corruption in the sport.
June 12, 2012
BRISBANE, Australia—Luke Wilkshire scored a controversial second-half penalty as Australia held on for a 1-1 draw against Japan in a World Cup qualifier on June 12.
June 12, 2012
SEOUL--Players from European clubs have long complained about midweek trips to the extremes of the continent for a Champions League game and then a return home for weekend action but such air miles and hours pale into insignificance compared with those being clocked up by the national teams of Asia.
June 08, 2012
SAITAMA, Japan-- Keisuke Honda fired a hat-trick as Japan crushed 10-man Jordan 6-0 on Friday to make it two wins out of two in the fourth round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
June 08, 2012
Nadeshiko Japan added some size and strength to its depleted lineup by calling up Ami Otaki, a 172-centimeter-tall striker whose physical play is expected to improve the national team’s side attack.
June 08, 2012
In the next year of qualifying for the 2014 Brazil World Cup, a man with a very un-Japanese-sounding name will play a key role for the Samurai Blue.
June 05, 2012
Manchester United have agreed terms with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of midfielder Shinji Kagawa, the English Premier League club said on June 5, with the Japan international needing to pass a medical and obtain a work permit to complete the deal.
June 03, 2012
SAITAMA, Saitama Prefecture--Keisuke Honda inspired Japan to a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Oman on June 3 in their opening game of the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
June 02, 2012
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni will rely heavily on Europe-based stars Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda when his team faces Oman, Jordan and Australia in the last full round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup.
May 31, 2012
For Dragan Stojkovic, a former star soccer player in Japan and the current manager of J1 club Nagoya Grampus, planning match strategy or mulling over player selection must provide a welcome distraction compared to what he has been dealing with back home in Serbia.
May 31, 2012
GUANGZHOU, China -- Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande reached the Asian Champions League quarterfinals beating FC Tokyo 1-0, while South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai beat J-League champ Kashiwa Reysol 3-2 to also advance on May 30.
May 30, 2012
When Japanese national team forward Megumi Takase was a little girl, she always used to kick a soccer ball around the yard with her oldest brother, Manafumi, until it got too dark to see.
May 26, 2012
Arsenal's twinkle-toed teenager Ryo Miyaichi has pleaded with Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni to give him a start for the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
May 25, 2012
Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were named among a full-strength Japan squad by coach Alberto Zaccheroni on May 24 for the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
May 23, 2012
STUTTGART, Germany--VfB Stuttgart defender Gotoku Sakai’s ability to observe and adjust to a game is one of his greatest strengths.
May 19, 2012
Takashi Usami’s move to one of the most talented teams in Europe has been a good learning experience for the teenaged Japanese midfielder. What it hasn’t provided, however, is a lot of valuable playing time.
May 18, 2012
Japan’s futsal community is hoping the upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup will bolster the popularity of its domestic league, just as Nadeshiko Japan’s victory at the Women’s World Cup last summer gave women’s soccer in Japan a huge shot in the arm.
May 18, 2012
OSAKA -- Japanese midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake has completed a move to German club Nurnberg.