Vissel Kobe 6–1 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (30 March 2024) Machida Zelvia 5–0 Tokyo Verdy (19 May 2024) Shonan Bellmare 5–0 Júbilo Iwata (14 July 2024)
The 2024 J1 League, also known as the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 2024 明治安田J1リーグ, Hepburn: 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd season of J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was the tenth season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 1.
Vissel Kobe were the defending champions, having won their first ever league title with one match to spare in the previous season.[2] They retained their league title on the last matchday.[3]
Overview
For the first time since 2021, the number of the clubs in the league increased from 18 to 20. At the end of season, three clubs were relegated to the J2 League for the 2025 season, without relegation play-offs between J1 and J2 clubs.[4]
Changes from the previous season
Only one club was relegated to the 2024 J2 League. Due to the re-introduction of 20 clubs league format, Yokohama FC became the sole team going down to the second division, after just one season in the J1 League. They have been replaced by three teams promoted from the 2023 J2 League. The first club promoted was Tokyo-based Machida Zelvia, debuting in the J1 as the J2 champions following a seven-year run in the Japanese second tier.[5][6] Another automatic promotion spot was obtained by Júbilo Iwata, who made a swift comeback after just a single season absence by finishing second, thus marking the return of a team from Shizuoka in the Japanese first division since 2022.[7] The last promotion spot was earned by Tokyo Verdy, returning to the top flight for the first time since 2008 by finishing third in the J2 League and later won the promotion play-offs. This brings back the Tokyo derby between Verdy and FC Tokyo in the J1 for the first time since that season as well as the first season in which three clubs from the capital city are competing at the highest tier of Japanese football system.[8][9]
Schedule
The league and match format was announced on 19 December 2023. The league began on 23 February and is scheduled to end on 8 December; it is played in a double round-robin format with 38 fixtures in total.[10]
From the 2021 season, there are no limitations on signing foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five of them for a single matchday squad.[25] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Morocco, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia) were exempted from these restrictions.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season 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.[26]
Source: J1 League, J.League Data Site 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 goals scored; 7) Fewer disciplinary points. (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abSince the winners of the 2024 Emperor's Cup, Vissel Kobe, had already qualified for the Champions League Elite, the spot given to the Emperor's Cup winners (Champions League Elite) was passed to the third-placed team. The spot given to the third-placed team (Champions League Two) was passed to the fourth-placed team consequently. However, if Kawasaki Frontale or Yokohama F. Marinos wins the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite, they will qualify for the subsequent edition as the title holders, while the third-placed team will instead participate in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two, and the fourth-placed team will have their qualification spot withdrawn.
^"2024明治安田J2リーグ 大会方式および試合方式について". JLeague.co (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^"岩政 大樹監督 退任のお知らせ" [Notice of retirement of director Daiki Iwamasa]. Antlers.co.jp (in Japanese). Kashima Antlers. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
^"ランコ ポポヴィッチ氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of appointment of Mr. Ranko Popovic as manager]. Antlers.co.jp (in Japanese). Kashima Antlers. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
^"ケヴィン マスカット監督 退任のお知らせ" [Announcement regarding resignation of manager Kevin Muscat]. F-Marinos.com (in Japanese). Yokohama F. Marinos. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^ abSaito, Kyoya (9 August 2024). "降格圏に沈む鳥栖が川井健太監督と契約解除…木谷公亮テクニカルダイレクターが新監督に就任" [Tosu, who is sinking into the relegation zone, cancels the contract with Kenta Kawai ... Kosuke Kitani, Technical Director, becomes the new manager]. Goal.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^"Per-Mathias Hoegmo". Urawa Red Diamonds. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
^"ポポヴィッチ監督の解任を発表【鹿島】" [Announcing the dismissal of coach Popovic [Kashima]]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
^"中後 雅喜コーチ 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the appointment of Coach Masaki Chugo as Head Coach]. Antlers.co.jp (in Japanese). Kashima Antlers. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
^"「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.
^"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.
^"9月度「明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表!「月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」も決定!" [Announcing the "Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI MVP of the Month" for September! "Best Goal of the Month", "Coach of the Month" and "Young Player of the Month" have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
^"10月度「明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表!「月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」も決定!" [The Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP for October has been announced! The winners of the Monthly Best Goal, Monthly Manager of the Year Award, and Monthly Young Player Award have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
^"11・12月度「明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表!「月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」も決定!" [The "Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for November and December has been announced! The "Monthly Best Goal," "Monthly Outstanding Manager Award," and "Monthly Young Player Award" have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
^ ab"最優秀選手賞は武藤 嘉紀選手(神戸)が初受賞!神戸からの選出は2年連続2人目!J1優勝の神戸からは3名がベストイレブンに選出 最優秀ゴール賞はG大阪 宇佐美 貴史選手が初受賞" [The MVP award was won for the first time by Yoshinori Muto (Kobe)! This is the second consecutive year that someone from Kobe has been selected! Three players from Kobe, who won the J1 League, were selected for the Best XI. The Best Goal Award was won for the first time by Gamba Osaka's Takashi Usami]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.