The is an association football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 then known as Japan Cup (International competition which national teams and clubs participated in), and was last held in its full form in 2022. From 1992 onwards, the format was changed to a round robin national team competition. The first nation to win the competition was Argentina. Japan are the tournament's most successful team with twelve titles, followed by Peru with three titles. As of 2026, the current cup holders are Japan.
Since the start of the international competitions in 1992, the tournament has hosted a variety of teams from South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Out of the South American members of CONMEBOL who have been invited (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru), Peru have been the most successful (three titles). Out of the European invitees, there have been seven different champions, the most successful being the Czech Republic with two titles, with Hungary, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Slovakia and Scotland winning one title each. Aside from Japan, the only other Asian country to have won the tournament are the United Arab Emirates (2005), who shared the title with Peru.
Tournaments All times are Japan standard time (UTC+9)
1978 Japan Cup Won by Borussia Mönchengladbach and Palmeiras. In the semi final Palmeiras beat English club Coventry City 1–0.
1979 Japan Cup Won by Tottenham Hotspur.
1980 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer Won by Middlesbrough F.C.
1981 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer Won by Club Brugge KV.
1982 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer TeamResult Werder Bremen43101537Champions43011346 Feyenoord4211107540133141 NKK Nippon Kokan40131141
1983 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer TeamResult Newcastle United4220616Champions Botafogo4121434 Yamaha412133441123434112273
1984 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer Group A TeamQualification21013302Qualification to the semi-finals Toulouse2101330221011102
Group B TeamQualification Internacional211030+33Qualification to the semi-finals20200002 Japan Universiade XI201103−31
1985 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamQualification Santos5410194+159Qualification to the final5320166+108 West Ham United5131137+65 Yomiuri521298+155113711−43 Malaysian Tigers5005331−280
1986 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult Palmeiras3300103+76Qualification to the final Werder Bremen311135−23310235−22301247−31
1987 Kirin Cup Soccer
TeamQualification Torino321052+35Qualification to the final Fluminense312081+74302123−123012312−91
1988 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamQualification Bayer Leverkusen321041+35Qualification to the final Flamengo312053+24311143+13300317−60
1991 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult330071+66Champions Vasco311142+23 Tottenham Hotspur311125−33300316−50
1992 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220020+24Champions21011102200202−20
1993 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211010+14Champions210132+13201113−21
1994 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220051+46Champions201112−11201125−31
1995 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211030+34Champions211021+14200215-40
1996 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220042+26Champions201123−11201101−11
1997 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220053+26Champions201145−11201112−11
1998 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211010+14Champions20201102201112−11
1999 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult20201102Joint Champions2020110220200002
2000 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211031+24Joint Champions211031+24200204−40
2001 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220030+36Champions21012203200203−30
2002 Kirin Cup Soccer
2003 Kirin Cup Soccer
2004 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult220041+36Champions210121+13200215−40
2005 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211010+14Joint Champions211010+14200202−20
2006 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211051+44Champions210136−33201112−11
2007 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult211020+24Champions211010+14200203−30
2008 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult21101014Champions20201102201112−11
2009 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamResult6220080+8Champions1201115–41201115–4
2011 Kirin Cup Soccer TeamPtsResult20200002Joint Champions2020000220200002
2016 Kirin Cup Soccer
Kirin Cup returned in 2016, under a new name and format: Kirin Cup Soccer 2016.
Semi-finals
Third place match
Final
2022 Kirin Cup Soccer
2022 Kirin Cup Soccer was held between 10 and 14 June 2022, in a four-nation tournament format. Tunisia have won their first title, defeating Japan 3–0 in the final. Teams
Semi-finals
Third place match
Final
2026 Kirin Cup Soccer The 2026 Kirin Cup Soccer was announced on 7 August 2026, set to be played on 1 and 5 October in a four-nation tournament format. Teams
Semi-finals
Third place match
Final
Winners (Kirin Cup Soccer) Clubs 1978: Borussia Mönchengladbach and SE Palmeiras (Shared) 1979: Tottenham Hotspur 1980: Middlesbrough 1981: Club Brugge 1982: Werder Bremen 1983: Newcastle United 1984: Internacional 1985: Santos 1986: Werder Bremen 1987: Fluminense 1988: CR Flamengo 1989: Not Held 1990: Not Held
National teams 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999: and (Shared) 2000: and (Shared) 2001: 2002: No Champions 2003: No Champions 2004: 2005: and (Shared) 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: Not Held 2011: , and (Shared) 2012: Not Held 2013: Not Held 2014: Not Held 2015: Not Held 2016: 2017: Not Held 2018: Not Held 2019: Not Held 2020: Not Held 2021: Not Held 2022: 2023: Not Held 2024: Not Held 2025: Not Held 2026:
See also
Kirin Cup Soccer (invitational tournament) Kirin Challenge Cup (an international friendly match) Kirin Company (JFA official partner) FIFA ASEAN Cup Sport in Japan Football in Japan Women's football in Japan Japan Football Association (JFA) Japan national football team Japan women's national football team
Notes
References
External links
All-time match results (1978–present) on kirin.co.jp Statistics on RSSSF Kirin Cup Soccer on Soccerway