2026–27 J3 League

J3 League
Season2026–27
DatesAugust 2026 – May 2027
2027–28 →

The 2026–27 J3 League is the upcoming 13th season season of the J3 League, the third-tier Japanese professional league for men's association football clubs, since its establishment in 2013.

Overview

General

This marked the first J3 League season scheduled with a summer-to-spring format with 20 teams will compete in the league – the sixteen teams from the previous season, three teams relegated from the J2 League and one team promoted from Japan Football League.

The top two teams in the league are automatically promoted to the J2 League, teams ranked 3rd to 6th advance to the promotion play-offs. There is the possibility that as many as two clubs will be relegated to the Japan Football League.

Promotion from the JFL is conditional on holding a valid J3 license. If the JFL champions hold a license, the club is automatically promoted and the J3's 20th-placed team is automatically relegated. If the JFL runners-up hold a license, the club needs to play promotion/relegation play-offs against J3's 19th or 20th-placed team for the season, depending on whether the JFL champions hold the J3 license. The club(s) who do not hold a license cannot be promoted and no teams are relegated from the J3 League.

Teams relegated from J2 League

Ehime became the first team to be relegated on 26 October 2025 after being defeated by Júbilo Iwata in matchweek 34, returning them to the third division after spending two seasons in J2.[1]

Kataller Toyama's victory over Blaublitz Akita in the final matchweek on 29 November 2025, resulted in the relegation of Renofa Yamaguchi and Roasso Kumamoto. Renofa Yamaguchi were relegated after nine seasons in the second division despite a win over Omiya Ardija, while Roasso Kumamoto were held to a goalless draw by Ventforet Kofu resulted in their relegation after four seasons in the second division.[2][3]

Teams promoted to J2 League

Tochigi City became the first team to be promoted on 23 November 2025 after defeating Nagano Parceiro in matchweek 37. This result made it their second consecutive promotion after previously being promoted from JFL to J3.[4]

Vanraure Hachinohe became the second team to be promoted after spending seven seasons in the third division. This was confirmed after holding Ryukyu Okinawa to a draw in the final matchweek on 29 November 2025.[5]

Tegevajaro Miyazaki became the last team to secure promotion after defeating FC Osaka in the final round of the promotion playoff on 14 December 2025, ending their five-season stay in the third division.[6]

Result from playoff

Reilac Shiga became the only team promoted from the JFL and the first team from Shiga to compete in the J.League. In the playoffs held on 14 December 2025, they defeated Azul Claro Numazu with a 4-3 aggregate score, relegating the Shizuoka-based team after eight seasons in the third division.[7]

Teams

Team changes

The following teams changed division since the 2025 season.

To J3 League
Relegated from J2 League
Promoted from JFL
From J3 League
Promoted to J2 League
Relegated to JFL

Location and stadium

Locations of teams in the 2026–27 J3 League.
Team Location Stadium Capacity 2025 season License
Ehime↓ Matsuyama Ningineer Stadium 20,919 20th in J2 J1
FC Gifu Gifu Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium 16,310 13th in J3 J1
FC Osaka Higashiōsaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium 27,346 3rd in J3 J2
Fukushima United Fukushima Toho Stadium 15,454 10th in J3 J2
Gainare Tottori Tottori Axis Bird Stadium 16,033 11th in J3 J2
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kitakyushu Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu 15,300 8th in J3 J1
Kagoshima United Kagoshima Shiranami Stadium 19,934 5th in J3 J1
Kamatamare Sanuki Marugame Pikara Stadium 30,099 17th in J3 J1
Kochi United Kōchi Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium 25,000 18th in J3 J3
Matsumoto Yamaga Matsumoto Sunpro Alwin 20,000 15th in J3 J1
Nagano Parceiro Nagano Nagano U Stadium 15,515 19th in J3 J2
Nara Club Nara Rohto Field Nara 30,600 15th in J3 J2
Reilac Shiga↑ Hikone Heiwado HATO Stadium 9,000 2nd in JFL J3
Renofa Yamaguchi↓ Yamaguchi Ishin Me-Life Stadium 15,115 19th in J2 J1
Roasso Kumamoto↓ Kumamoto Egao Kenko Stadium 30,275 18th in J2 J1
Ryukyu Okinawa Okinawa Okinawa Athletic Park Stadium 10,189 16th in J3 J1
SC Sagamihara Sagamihara Sagamihara Gion Stadium 6,291 12th in J3 J2
Thespa Gunma Maebashi Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma 15,253 14th in J3 J1
Tochigi Utsunomiya Kanseki Stadium Tochigi 25,244 7th in J3 J1
Zweigen Kanazawa Kanazawa Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium 10,444 6th in J3 J1
↓ Relegated from the J2 League
↑ Promoted from the Japan Football League

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and coaches may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsors
Main Other(s)
Ehime Takeshi Oki Takashi Sone Jogarbola
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
FC Gifu Kiyotaka Ishimaru Akito Fukuta Razzoli Hot Staff
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Gifu
    • Shorts: None
FC Osaka Naoto Otake
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Fukushima United Shuhei Terada Hummel SportsX
List
    • Front: None
    • Back:Jin Luck
    • Sleeves: Fukushima
    • Shorts: None
Gainare Tottori Kentaro Hayashi TLSS
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: TIC
    • Shorts: None
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kohei Masumoto Umbro
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Kagoshima United Naoki Soma Angua
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Kamatamare Sanuki Kim Jong-song Yusuke Imamura Umbro Rexxam
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Kagawa
    • Shorts: None
Kochi United Takafumi Yoshimoto Athleta Kōchi
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Casio
    • Shorts: None
Matsumoto Yamaga Tomonobu Hayakawa Adidas Epson
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Nagano Parceiro Chikara Fujimoto Penalty Hokio
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Nara Club Masashi Daikoku Rin Morita Squadra Daiwa House Group
List
    • Front: Bangkok Glass, MARU
    • Back: MJE Inc.
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Reilac Shiga DEZ Rei Beauty
List
    • Front: Dr. Melon, North River Group
    • Back: Romarin
    • Sleeves: Hikonyan
    • Shorts: None
Renofa Yamaguchi Michiharu Otagiri FInta Futebol UPR
List
    • Front: Fuji Robotics
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Roasso Kumamoto Tomohiro Katanosaka Admiral Hirata
List
    • Front: RKKCS
    • Back: Yusen Logistics
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Ryukyu Okinawa
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
SC Sagamihara
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Thespa Gunma Masaru Okita ATHLETADENHAM CAINZ
List
    • Front: Sunwa
    • Back: Farmdo Group, Beisia
    • Sleeves: Gunma
    • Shorts: None
Tochigi Shinji Kobayashi
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Zweigen Kanazawa
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None

Managerial changes

Pre-season

Team Outgoing manager Manner Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of arrival
Ehime Shinya Aono End of interim spell 1 December 2025 Takeshi Oki 7 December 2025[8]
Renofa Yamaguchi Genki Nakayama End of contract 1 December 2025 Michiharu Otagiri 8 December 2025[9]
Nara Club Michiharu Otagiri 8 December 2025[10] Masashi Daikoku 14 December 2025[11]
Roasso Kumamoto Takeshi Oki 1 December 2025 Tomohiro Katanosaka 1 January 2026

During the season

Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position in table Incoming Incoming date
Announced on Departed on Announced on Arrived on

Foreign players

From the 2021 season onwards, there are no limitations on signing foreign players, but clubs could only register up to five of them for a single matchday squad.[12] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Qatar) were exempted from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the winter transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, holds the nationality of a J.League partner nation, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from an approved type of school in the country.[13]
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Former players
Ehime Marcel Scalese Ben Duncan
FC Gifu
FC Osaka
Fukushima United
Gainare Tottori
Giravanz Kitakyushu
Kagoshima United
Kamatamare Sanuki
Kochi United
Matsumoto Yamaga
Nagano Parceiro
Nara Club Marc Vito
Reilac Shiga
Renofa Yamaguchi
Roasso Kumamoto
Ryukyu Okinawa
SC Sagamihara
Thespa Gunma
Tochigi
Zweigen Kanazawa

Foreign players by confederation

Foreign players by confederation
AFC  Australia (1)
CAF
CONCACAF
CONMEBOL  Brazil (1)
OFC
UEFA  Spain (1)

Standings

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Ehime 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to J2 League
2 FC Gifu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 FC Osaka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Promotion playoff
4 Fukushima United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Gainare Tottori 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Giravanz Kitakyushu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Kagoshima United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Kamatamare Sanuki 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Kochi United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Matsumoto Yamaga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Nagano Parceiro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Nara Club 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Reilac Shiga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Renofa Yamaguchi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Roasso Kumamoto 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Ryukyu Okinawa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 SC Sagamihara 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 Thespa Gunma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 Tochigi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Relegation playoff[a]
20 Zweigen Kanazawa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to the Japan Football League
First match(es) will be played: August 2026. Source: J3 League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
Notes:
  1. ^ Only applied if top two teams in JFL obtaining a J.League license.

Position by round

Promotion to the J2 League
Qualification for the promotion play-off
Qualification for the relegation play-off
Relegation to the Japan Football League
First match(es) will be played on August 2026. Source: J3 League

Results

Fixtures and results

Home \ Away EHI FCG FCO FHU GNT GRV KGU KMM KCU MTY NGP NRC RLC RNF RKM RYU SAG THG TSC ZKN
Ehime
FC Gifu
FC Osaka
Fukushima United
Gainare Tottori
Giravanz Kitakyushu
Kagoshima United
Kamatamare Sanuki
Kochi United
Matsumoto Yamaga
Nagano Parceiro
Nara Club
Reilac Shiga
Renofa Yamaguchi
Roasso Kumamoto
Ryukyu Okinawa
SC Sagamihara
Thespa Gunma
Tochigi
Zweigen Kanazawa
First match(es) will be played: August 2026. Source: J3 League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Results by round

First match(es) will be played on August 2026. Source: J3 League

Playoffs

Promotion playoff

Based on the J3 placements at the end of the regular season, the third-placed team played against the sixth-placed, while the fourth-placed team played against the fifth-placed. The winners of the semi-finals played the final, with the winners promoted to the J2.

If a match was tied in the play-offs, the team with the highest league position are declared the winner. The rank order was: J3's third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-placed teams.

Semi-finals Final
      
3 '
6  
 
 
4  
5  

Matches

Semifinals

2027 3th-placed of J3 League v 6th-placed of J3 League
--:-- UTC+9
2027 4th-placed of J3 League v 5th-placed of J3 League
--:-- UTC+9

Final

2027 Winner of Semifinal 1 v Winner of Semifinal 2
--:-- UTC+9

Relegation playoff

Summary

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
19th-placed of J3 League PO 2nd-placed of Japan Football League TBD TBD

Matches

First leg

2027 2nd-placed of JFL v 19th-placed of J3 League
--:-- UTC+9

Second leg

2027 19th-placed of J3 League v 2nd-placed of JFL
--:-- UTC+9

Attendances

Overall

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Ehime 0 0 0 0 n/a†
2 FC Gifu 0 0 0 0 n/a†
3 FC Osaka 0 0 0 0 n/a†
4 Fukushima United 0 0 0 0 n/a†
5 Gainare Tottori 0 0 0 0 n/a†
6 Giravanz Kitakyushu 0 0 0 0 n/a†
7 Kagoshima United 0 0 0 0 n/a†
8 Kamatamare Sanuki 0 0 0 0 n/a†
9 Kochi United 0 0 0 0 n/a†
10 Matsumoto Yamaga 0 0 0 0 n/a†
11 Nagano Parceiro 0 0 0 0 n/a†
12 Nara Club 0 0 0 0 n/a†
13 Reilac Shiga 0 0 0 0 n/a‡
14 Renofa Yamaguchi 0 0 0 0 n/a†
15 Roasso Kumamoto 0 0 0 0 n/a†
16 Ryukyu Okinawa 0 0 0 0 n/a†
17 SC Sagamihara 0 0 0 0 n/a†
18 Thespa Gunma 0 0 0 0 n/a†
19 Tochigi 0 0 0 0 n/a†
20 Zweigen Kanazawa 0 0 0 0 n/a†
League total 0 0 0 0 n/a†

Source: J3 League
Notes:
† Teams played previous season in J2 League
‡ Teams played previous season in Japan Football League

Home match played

Team \ Match played 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Total
Ehime
FC Gifu
FC Osaka
Fukushima United
Gainare Tottori
Giravanz Kitakyushu
Kagoshima United
Kamatamare Sanuki
Kochi United
Matsumoto Yamaga
Nagano Parceiro
Nara Club
Reilac Shiga
Renofa Yamaguchi
Roasso Kumamoto
Ryukyu Okinawa
SC Sagamihara
Thespa Gunma
Tochigi
Zweigen Kanazawa
League total 0

Source: J3 League

Number of teams by prefecture

Number Prefecture Team(s)
2  Nagano Prefecture Matsumoto Yamaga and Nagano Parceiro
1  Ehime Prefecture Ehime
 Fukuoka Prefecture Giravanz Kitakyushu
 Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima United
 Gifu Prefecture FC Gifu
 Gunma Prefecture Thespa Gunma
 Ishikawa Prefecture Zweigen Kanazawa
 Kagawa Prefecture Kamatamare Sanuki
 Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima United
 Kanagawa Prefecture SC Sagamihara
 Kōchi Prefecture Kochi United
 Kumamoto Prefecture Roasso Kumamoto
 Nara Prefecture Nara Club
 Okinawa Prefecture Ryukyu Okinawa
 Osaka Prefecture FC Osaka
 Shiga Prefecture Reilac Shiga
 Tochigi Prefecture Tochigi
 Tottori Prefecture Gainare Tottori
 Yamaguchi Prefecture Renofa Yamaguchi

See also

References

  1. ^ "愛媛FCを応援してくださるすべての皆様へ". Ehime FC (in Japanese). 26 October 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  2. ^ "レノファ山口FCに関わるすべての皆さまへ - レノファ山口FC". Renofa Yamaguchi FC (in Japanese). 29 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  3. ^ "｜ロアッソ熊本 公式サイト｜ROASSO KUMAMOTO OFFICIAL WEBSITE". Roasso Kumamoto (in Japanese). 29 November 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  4. ^ "栃木シティを応援いただくすべての皆さまへ". Tochigi City FC (in Japanese). 23 November 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  5. ^ "【11/29(土)琉球戦】試合結果・コメント - ヴァンラーレ八戸FCオフィシャルサイト". Vanraure Hachinohe (in Japanese). 29 November 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  6. ^ "祝 宮崎総力戦でJ2昇格！ - テゲバジャーロ宮崎－オフィシャルサイト". Tegevajaro Miyazaki (in Japanese). 14 December 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  7. ^ "アスルクラロ沼津を支えてくださっているすべての皆さまへ". Azul Claro Numazu (in Japanese). 14 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  8. ^ "大木 武 氏 愛媛FCトップチーム監督就任のお知らせ". Ehime FC (in Japanese). 7 December 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ^ "小田切 道治氏 レノファ山口FC トップチーム 監督就任のお知らせ | レノファ山口FC". Renofa Yamaguchi FC (in Japanese). 8 December 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  10. ^ "小田切道治監督 退任のお知らせ | 奈良クラブ | NARA CLUB Official Site". Nara Club (in Japanese). 8 December 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  11. ^ "大黒 将志氏 監督就任のお知らせ | 奈良クラブ | NARA CLUB Official Site". Nara Club (in Japanese). 14 December 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  12. ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について" [About the introduction of the "homegrown system" and the change of the "foreign player quota"]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018.
  13. ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" [Rules for contracting, registering and transferring professional soccer players] (PDF). JFA.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
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