Competition Overview

Organizer

Japan Football Association (JFA) Japan Professional Football League (J.LEAGUE)

Competition Format

Double round-robin league format (home and away)
38 matchdays 380 matches

Competition Period

Saturday, August 8, 2026 – Sunday, May 23, 2027

Venues

In principle, matches will be played at the home stadium of each club.

Match Regulations

Match Format and Determination of Results

Each match consists of 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves). If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match ends in a draw.

Points System

Win: 3 points Draw: 1 point Loss: 0 points

League Standings

At the conclusion of the league season, clubs are ranked according to the total number of points earned.
If two or more clubs are tied on points, the rankings are determined in the following order:
  1. Goal difference
  2. Goals scored
  3. Head-to-head record between the tied clubs, in the following order: (a) Points earned (b) Goal difference (c) Goals scored
  4. Drawing of lots* * A drawing of lots will only be conducted if deemed necessary by the J.LEAGUE Chairman, such as for determining promotion and relegation.

Match Squad

A maximum of 20 players may be registered for each match.
  • Up to four foreign players may be included.
  • Players holding the nationality of a country designated by J.LEAGUE as a "J.LEAGUE Partner Nation" are not treated as foreign players.

Player Substitutions

Each team may make up to five substitutions during a match. Substitutions may be made on a maximum of three occasions during regular play (excluding half-time).

Concussion Substitutions

General Principles

  • Each team may make one concussion substitution per match.
  • A concussion substitution may be made regardless of the number of substitutions already used.
  • If one team uses a concussion substitution, the opposing team is entitled to make one additional substitution. The substitute player does not have to replace a player with a suspected concussion.

Substitution Opportunities

  • Concussion substitutions and additional substitutions are treated separately from the limit on regular substitution opportunities.
  • If two or more types of substitutions (regular, concussion, and/or additional) are made at the same stoppage, each type is counted separately as one substitution opportunity.

Registration Deadline for Player Eligibility

Friday, March 19, 2027

Awards

  • Champions Prize money: JPY 5 million J.LEAGUE Trophy
  • Runners-up Prize money: JPY 2.5 million

Promotion and Relegation between J2 and J3

(1) The bottom three clubs in the J2 League standings will be relegated to J3. The top two clubs in J3 will be automatically promoted to J2. The winner of the J2 Promotion Play-offs, contested by the clubs finishing 3rd through 6th in J3, will also be promoted to J2.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions above, if any of the top two J3 clubs fail to obtain either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License:
  1. Any such club shall not be promoted to J2.
  2. If only one of the top two J3 clubs holds either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License: That club will be promoted to J2. The bottom two J2 clubs will be relegated to J3. However, if none of the clubs finishing 3rd–6th in J3 holds either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License: Only the bottom club in J2 will be relegated.
  3. If neither of the top two J3 clubs holds either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License: Only the bottom club in J2 will be relegated. However, if none of the clubs finishing 3rd–6th in J3 holds either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License: No promotion or relegation will take place between J2 and J3.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section (1), if any club finishing between 3rd and 6th in J3 fails to obtain either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License:
  1. That club shall not be eligible to participate in the J2 Promotion Play-offs.
  2. Clubs finishing 7th or lower in J3 will not move up to replace an ineligible club in the Promotion Play-offs.
  3. If none of the clubs finishing 3rd–6th in J3 holds either a J1 Club License or a J2 Club License: Only the top two eligible J3 clubs will be promoted to J2. The bottom two J2 clubs will be relegated to J3. In addition, the provisos described in Item (2) above shall apply where relevant.

Promotion and Relegation between J3 and the Japan Football League (JFL)

(Loss of J3 Club Membership and Admission of JFL Clubs to J.LEAGUE)
(1) If one JFL club is approved for admission to J.LEAGUE by the Board of Directors
i) If the club finishes 1st in the JFL
  • The club finishing last in J3 will be automatically replaced by the JFL champions.
  • No J3/JFL Promotion/Relegation Play-off will be held.
ii) If the club finishes 2nd in the JFL
  • A J3/JFL Promotion/Relegation Play-off will be played between the bottom club in J3 and the second-placed JFL club.
  • If the JFL club wins the play-off, it will be admitted to J.LEAGUE as a J3 club, while the defeated J3 club will lose its J.LEAGUE membership.
(2) If two JFL clubs are approved for admission to J.LEAGUE by the Board of Directors
i) The club finishing last in J3 will be automatically replaced by the JFL champions.
ii) A J3/JFL Promotion/Relegation Play-off will be played between the club finishing 19th in J3 and the second-placed JFL club. If the JFL club wins the play-off, it will be admitted to J.LEAGUE as a J3 club, while the defeated J3 club will lose its J.LEAGUE membership.
(3) If no JFL club is approved for admission to J.LEAGUE by the Board of Directors: No promotion or relegation will take place between J3 and the JFL.
Note: Pursuant to Article 10, Paragraph 3 of the J.LEAGUE Articles of Incorporation, a club that is relegated under these provisions automatically loses its J.LEAGUE membership.
J3 Competition Overview | Official Website of J.LEAGUE