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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 retailer-search routes for both teams.
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