The J.League is Japan’s professional football (soccer) league system. Established in 1992, it is composed of multiple tiers, with J1 being the top division, followed by J2 and J3. The league was created to improve the standard of football in Japan and to promote the sport’s popularity following the success of the Japanese national team and the country hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2002. The J.League operates on a promotion and relegation system, where the best-performing teams in lower divisions can advance to higher ones, while the lowest-performing teams in higher divisions can be relegated. The league has contributed significantly to developing football infrastructure, clubs, and player talent in Japan, fostering both domestic and international competitiveness.
V-Varen Nagasaki faces Vegalta Sendai in a high-stakes rematch, driven by last season's playoff defeat. The team's head coach, Takahiro Shimoda, emphasizes focusing on consistent progress over seeking revenge in…