The Kirin Cup stands as one of Japan’s longest-running international football showcases. Organised by the Japan Football Association (JFA) with special sponsorship from the Kirin Group, the competition has provided the host nation’s national team with valuable competitive matches against strong international opposition for nearly five decades.
Kirin Cup 2026 Teams
After a four-year gap following the 2022 tournament (in which Tunisia won beating Japan 3-0 in the final) the Kirin Cup returns October 2026. The four participating nations in 2026 are:
- Japan (hosts)
- Ecuador
- New Zealand
- Panama
Kirin Cup 2026 Matches
The tournament takes place over two matchdays:
New Zealand vs. Panama
01 October 2026 (7:10pm NZT) – International Stadium Yokohama (Nissan Stadium), Yokohama, Japan
Half Time: x-x
Full Time: x-x
⚽️ ?
Japan vs. Ecuador
01 October 2026 (11:10pm NZT) – International Stadium Yokohama (Nissan Stadium), Yokohama, Japan
Half Time: x-x
Full Time: x-x
⚽️ ?
The winners of these two matches will face each other in the final on the 5th. The losers of these two matches will also face each other for 3rd place on the same day.
Ecuador vs. Winner or Loser 2
05 October 2026 (7:30pm NZT) – Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Half Time: x-x
Full Time: x-x
⚽️ ?
Japan vs. Winner or Loser 2
05 October 2026 (11:30pm NZT) – Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Half Time: x-x
Full Time: x-x
⚽️ ?
How to watch the Kirin Cup 2026
Japan: Broadcaster depends on the match:
- New Zealand vs Panama: TBS Sports YouTube channel
- Japan vs Ecuador: TBS (national free-to-air live) + TVer livestream.
- Ecuador vs (Round 1 winner/loser): TV Asahi Sports YouTube channel + DAZN Live
- Japan vs (Round 1 winner/loser): TV Asahi network + TVer Live + DAZN Live + ABEMA Live
New Zealand: Live on Duke (free-to-air) and streamed on TVNZ+
Ecuador: Live on Teleamazonas (free-to-air / señal abierta) and TC Televisión (free-to-air / señal abierta)
Panama: RPC Deportes y RPC Deportes (YouTube)
Origin and Evolution of the Kirin Cup
The tournament began in 1978 under the name Japan Cup. Early editions featured a mix of club sides and national teams, drawing prestigious European and South American clubs alongside Asian representatives. From 1992 it became a national-team-only event.
Japan has participated in every edition as host and remains the most successful side with 11 titles. Other multiple winners include Peru (three titles). The most recent full edition in 2022 was claimed by Tunisia, who defeated Japan 3-0 in the final—the first African nation to lift the trophy.
Over the years the format has varied. For much of its history it used a round-robin structure among three or four teams. Since the 2016 revival it has typically operated as a four-team knockout tournament with semi-finals, a third-place match and a final. Matches that finish level after 90 minutes proceed straight to penalties.
The Kirin Cup has long served as an important platform for the Japanese national team (also known as the Samurai Blue) to gain experience against varied styles of play from South America, Europe, Africa and Oceania, particularly during FIFA international windows
