Kirin Cup


The Kirin Cup is an association football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 then known as Japan Cup, and was last held in its full form in 2016.
From 1992 onwards, the format was changed to a round robin national team competition. The first nation to win the competition was Argentina. Japan are the tournament's most successful team with eleven titles, followed by Peru with three titles. As of 2016, the current cup holders are Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since the start of the international competitions in 1992, the tournament has hosted a variety of teams from South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Out of the South American members of CONMEBOL who have been invited, Peru have been the most successful.
Out of the European invitees, there have been seven different champions, the most successful being the Czech Republic with two titles, with Hungary, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Slovakia and Scotland winning one title each. Aside from Japan, the only other Asian country to have won the tournament are the United Arab Emirates, who shared the title with Peru.
No African teams have won the tournament.
In addition to the annual Kirin Cup there are a few Kirin Challenge Cup, friendlies also sponsored by the Kirin Corporation, played throughout the year in Japan. Japan took out the most recent 2019 Kirin Challenge Cup with 2–0 win over Paraguay on 5 September 2019.

Tournaments

All times are Japan standard time

1978 Japan Cup

1979 Japan Cup

1980 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer

Won by Middlesbrough F.C.

1981 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer

1982 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer

1983 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer

Won by Newcastle United with Chris Waddle finishing tournament top scorer.

1984 Japan Cup Kirin World Soccer

Group A

Group B

Semi-finals

Final

1985 Kirin Cup

Final

1986 Kirin Cup

Final

1987 Kirin Cup

Team
Torino5321052+3
Fluminense4312081+7
2302123–1
13012312–9

Final

1988 Kirin Cup

Final

1991 Kirin Cup

1992 Kirin Cup

Team
4220020+2
22101110
0200202–2

1993 Kirin Cup

Team
4211010+1
3210132+1
1201113–2

1994 Kirin Cup

Team
6220051+4
1201112–1
1201125–3

1995 Kirin Cup

1996 Kirin Cup

1997 Kirin Cup

1998 Kirin Cup

1999 Kirin Cup

2000 Kirin Cup

2001 Kirin Cup

2002 Kirin Cup

2003 Kirin Cup

2004 Kirin Cup

2005 Kirin Cup

2006 Kirin Cup

2007 Kirin Cup

2008 Kirin Cup

2009 Kirin Cup

2011 Kirin Cup

Team
22020000
22020000
22020000

2013 Kirin Challenge Cup

2014 Kirin Challenge Cup

2015 Kirin Challenge Cup

2016 Kirin Cup Soccer

Kirin Cup returned in 2016, under a new name and format: Kirin Cup Soccer 2016.

Semi-finals

Third place play-off

Final

2016 Kirin Challenge Cup

2017 Kirin Challenge Cup

2018 Kirin Challenge Cup

2019 Kirin Challenge Cup

2020 Kirin Challenge Cup

On July 17, Japan national under-23 football team was planning to hold the 2020 Kirin Challenge Cup at Noevir Stadium Kobe, but it was canceled COVID-19.

Winners

Clubs