Japan National Soccer Team
Japan's Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Dec. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Spain vs Spain 12/18/2022

Dec. 20, 2022 09:52 AM EST

Brazil's Neymar, second left, warms up with teammates during an official training session at the National Stadium in Tokyo Sunday, June 5, 2022. Brazil national soccer team will play a friendly soccer match against Japan on June 6. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Brazil vs Japan 6/6/2022

Jun. 05, 2022 06:52 AM EDT

Japan team members warm up during an official training session at the National Stadium in Tokyo Sunday, June 5, 2022. Japan national soccer team will play a friendly soccer match against Brazil on June 6. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Brazil faces Japan in friendly with lesser focus on Neymar

By Stephen Wade Jun. 05, 2022 06:50 AM EDT

Barcelona celebrate the third goal against Real Madrid during the Women's Champions League quarter final, second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Record attendance: 91,553 watch women's game in Barcelona

Mar. 30, 2022 03:00 PM EDT

United States' forward Carli Lloyd is honored before a soccer friendly match against South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Carli Lloyd plays final match for US in rout of South Korea

Oct. 26, 2021 10:18 PM EDT

South Korea's Yeo Minji, left, and United States' Carli Lloyd, right, react at the conclusion of an international friendly soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. The match ended with no score. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
After decorated career, Lloyd will savor final game with US

By Anne M. Peterson Oct. 25, 2021 05:23 PM EDT

U.S. midfielder Catrina Macario (19) and Paraguay midfielder Fanny Godoy (10) vie for the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carli Lloyd scores 5 goals, US women rout Paraguay 9-0

Sep. 16, 2021 09:48 PM EDT

United States' Carli Lloyd celebrates scoring her side's 4th goal against Australia in the women's bronze medal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Kashima, Japon. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
US forward Carli Lloyd retiring after decorated career

By Anne M. Peterson Aug. 16, 2021 01:44 PM EDT

Players of Mexico throw coach Jaime Lozano to celebrate beating 3-1 Japan in the men's bronze medal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Cordova leads Mexico to soccer bronze in 3-1 win over Japan

Aug. 06, 2021 07:36 AM EDT

Players of Mexico pos prior to their men's bronze medal soccer match against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Japan vs Mexico 8/6/2021

Aug. 06, 2021 05:06 AM EDT

Spain's Pedri Gonzalez, left, and Japan's Takefusa Kubo battle for the ball in a men's semifinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japon. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Spain vs Japan 8/3/2021

Aug. 03, 2021 07:38 AM EDT

Mexico's players react after defeated by Brazil in a penalty shootout in a men's soccer semifinal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Kashima, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Brazil to play Spain in men's Olympic soccer gold-medal game

Aug. 03, 2021 07:21 AM EDT

Grounds crew members spray the field down with water before the start of a women's semifinal soccer match between Australia and Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Sweden vs Australia 8/2/2021

Aug. 02, 2021 06:34 AM EDT

Olympic volunteer Atsushi Muramatsu shows business-card size flyers to express gratitude for support from overseas, during an interview with The Associated Press in Rifu, Japan, Thursday, July 29, 2021. He made the flyers to hand out to foreign media covering the 2020 Summer Olympics at Miyagi Stadium, where he is serving as a volunteer. (AP Photo/Chisato Tanaka)
Olympic volunteers strive to share stories of 3/11 disaster

By Chisato Tanaka Aug. 01, 2021 11:31 PM EDT

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal takes a shot as Ivory Coast's Kouadio-Yves Dabila fails to block in a men's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Rifu, Japan, Tokyo. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Spain, Brazil advance to semifinals of Olympic men's soccer

By Rob Harris Jul. 31, 2021 09:58 AM EDT

Police patrol outside the Ibaraki Kashima Stadium prior a men's quarterfinal soccer match between Japan and New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Kashima, Japan, Tokyo. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
New Zealand vs Japan 7/31/2021

Jul. 31, 2021 04:02 AM EDT

Sweden's Magdalena Eriksson, right, scores the opening goal against Japan during a women's quarterfinal soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Japan vs Sweden 7/30/2021

Jul. 30, 2021 06:20 AM EDT

Spain's Pedri Gonzalez, left, and Egypt's Taher Mohamed battle for the ball during a men's soccer match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Sapporo, Japan. (AP Photo/SIlvia Izquierdo)
Now at Olympics, Pedri losing count of games after 11 months

By Rob Harris Jul. 29, 2021 07:47 AM EDT

Australia players celebrate for a goal during a women's soccer match against Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Familiar foes: US, Netherlands ready for quarterfinal clash

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 29, 2021 06:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 1964, file photo, vapor trails from Japanese Self-Defense Force jets form the Olympic emblem of the five rings above the National Stadium in Tokyo for the official opening of the XVIII Olympiad, first even held in Asia. Every Japanese of a certain age has memories of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Even younger Japanese have connections through parents or aunts and uncles who saved old photos, faded certificates, or recall getting a television for the first time to watch the Games. (AP Photo, File)
From the Emperor on down: Memories of the '64 Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jul. 29, 2021 03:34 AM EDT