NEWS

Japan lost 1-0 to Syria in their opening match at the Under-20 Qatar International Friendly Tournament in Doha on Sunday.

The Japan Football Association confirmed their intention to bid for hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cup at their executive committee meeting on Friday in Kanazawa.
“We have decided to stand for bidding to host the World Cup [in 2018 and/or 2022],” JFA president Motoaki Inukai said.
As Japan have no 80,000-seater stadium at the moment, the JFA will work closely with the 2016 Tokyo Olympics Summer Games bidding committee. The success of the Summer Games hosting can offer the building a new stadium with 120,000 seating, which can help Japan meet the FIFA requirements.
“We will definitely need the success of the 2016 Tokyo Olympics hosting bids,” Inukai said in his greeting speech to coaches of the nation at a JFA Football Conference in Kanazawa.
“If they won’t win it, it will be physically impossible for us to host the World Cup,” he said. “We will offer our full support to help them host the Olympics.”
FIFA have asked the associations to officially announce their intention by February 2 if they have will to bid for hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.