2026 Emperor's Cup

The Emperor's Cup is Japan's oldest and most prestigious football knockout competition, founded in 1921 and open to all registered clubs in the Japanese football pyramid — from J1 League professionals down to amateur and university sides. The open format occasionally produces major upsets as lower-division clubs knock out top-flight opponents in front of passionate local crowds.

The 2026–27 edition begins in August 2026 with early rounds featuring hundreds of clubs before the competition narrows through autumn and winter to its New Year's Day final at the National Stadium in Tokyo — one of Japanese football's most iconic occasions. J1 League clubs enter at later stages, but the early rounds belong to the grassroots clubs for whom a run in the Emperor's Cup represents the highlight of their season.