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The rivalry, in football culture
The defining shared moment is the 2002 World Cup, which the two nations co-hosted — the only time in history a major tournament has been hosted across two countries with this kind of historic tension. South Korea reached the semi-finals; Japan reached the round of 16; the entire continent of Asia treated the tournament as a moment of arrival on the world football stage.
Notable meetings
- 2002 World Cup co-hosting — both nations qualified for the knockouts on home soil. South Korea reached the semis. Japan went out to Turkey. The biggest moment in Asian football history.
- Multiple AFC Asian Cup finals and semi-finals across the past two decades — the rivalry plays out at continental level even more often than at world level.
- Regular qualifying meetings — the two nations have met more than 80 times in international football, more than almost any other Asian fixture.
Kit comparison
Which kit is better — Japan or South Korea?
The football rivalry is one thing. The kit rivalry is another. See the full kit comparison with verdicts, design notes, and direct buy links for both teams.
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