New-Look J.League Kicks Off! Defending Champions Kashima Face Yokohama FM at MUFG Stadium [Preview: MEIJI YASUDA J1 Matchweek 1]

The 2026/27 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE gets under way on 7 August.

Following the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, the new August-to-June season will be an important one for the J.League as it seeks to meet global standards. Which team will lift the title and write its name into history?

The standout fixture is the opening match between Yokohama FM and Kashima at MUFG Stadium. It is a historic meeting between two members of the Original 10, neither of whom has ever been relegated from J1.

Yokohama FM have appointed Steve Corica as their new manager as they seek to restore the club to its former glory. New signing Kei Chinen faces his former club and could hold the key. Kashima, meanwhile, begin the season as defending champions. With their style now firmly established under manager Toru Oniki, new signing Matheus Bueno should bring further energy to the side.

100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE champions Kobe travel to face Fukuoka. Although there are concerns over new signing Anderson Lopes' fitness, Kobe boast one of the strongest squads in the league and should once again produce high-intensity, aggressive football. Fukuoka have made interim manager Shinya Tsukahara's appointment permanent. They struggled to a 19th-place finish in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE but have strengthened their squad with Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu. Expectations are high for a new signing with experience at the highest level.

Gamba Osaka host Urawa. Following the sudden departure of manager Jens Wissing, they make a fresh start under new manager Tomokazu Myojin. The former Gamba player will be tasked with shaping a new side. Urawa have also appointed a new manager in Cho Kwi Jae. After building a strong track record with Shonan and Kyoto, how will he rebuild his former club as they look to end their long wait for a title? Harumi Minamino will also be one to watch against his former club.

Mito, having finally secured promotion to J1, travel to face Kashiwa. They finished 18th in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, which served as a dress rehearsal for the new season, but produced some encouraging results, including a win over Kashima. Can attacking reinforcements such as Kaito Taniguchi help them make an impact in J1? Kashiwa also struggled in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE but challenged Kashima for the J1 title in 2025. With a clearly defined style under manager Ricardo Rodriguez, they should once again look to play attacking football.

Chiba, back in J1 for the first time in 17 years, travel to Hiroshima. Finishing bottom of the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE exposed them to the harsh realities of the top flight, and new signing Erison from Kawasaki Frontale could hold the key to their fortunes. Hiroshima, meanwhile, have welcomed Takuma Asano and Takumu Kawamura back from Europe and also signed Côte d'Ivoire international Sebastien Haller, significantly strengthening their squad. Asano's injury absence is a blow, but the rest of their attacking options will be eager to step up.

Nagasaki, back in J1 after an eight-year absence, host Kyoto. After showing defensive vulnerabilities in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, new signings such as Takuma Ominami will be key as they look to turn things around. Kyoto's five-and-a-half-year spell under Cho Kwi Jae has come to an end, with Ranko Popovic taking charge for the new season. Rafael Elias and the rest of Kyoto's foreign contingent should once again drive the team forward.

FC Tokyo and Machida meet in a battle between two Tokyo clubs. FC Tokyo surged to a fourth-place finish in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE. The departure of leading scorer Ryunosuke Sato is a blow, but can new Danish signing Nicolai Vallys help fill the void? Machida recruited aggressively during the off-season and successfully added depth to their squad, with Takahiro Akimoto and Yusuke Matsuo among the players attracting particular attention.

Nagoya host Shimizu. Under new manager Mihailo Petrović, they produced attacking football in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE. Can prolific scorers Yuya Yamagishi and Yudai Kimura deliver from the opening match? Shimizu achieved greater defensive stability under manager Takayuki Yoshida but struggled for goals. New signings Kosuke Kinoshita and Ryo Germain, both from Hiroshima, will be key to addressing that issue.

Cerezo Osaka host Okayama. Despite finishing third in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, manager Arthur Papas departed and Pablo Machin was appointed as his successor. Under their new Spanish manager, they will look to play even more attacking football. Okayama combined their trademark defensive solidity with an effective attack in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE. Can new signing Na Sangho from Machida bring further momentum to the team?

Tokyo V host Kawasaki Frontale. Their style is firmly established under Hiroshi Jofuku, now in his fifth year as manager. The performances of an attack reinforced by Kim Hyun Woo, Soma Kanda and others could be key to mounting a challenge near the top. Kawasaki Frontale enter the new season with their existing squad forming the core of the team, but they will need to address the defensive vulnerabilities exposed in the 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE.