Japan

 Japanese football has not made a major mark in world football despite some good players getting international recognition like Hidetoshi Nakata having played for international clubs like Perugia and Roma in the Italian Serie A league. The general norm surrounding the Japanese National team is that they are new to football but contrary to that is the fact that football had reached long back in Japan.The actual start of football in Japan goes back to 1863 with matched taking place between some English teachers and their pupils in Tokyo. The first officially recognized match was in September 1873 organized by a British Officer and his men. The Japanese spectators assumed it was a version of kemari, an ancient Japanese ballgame. The first competitive match was played in 1888 between Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club and Yokohama County. This also started a major rivalry between these teams which continues till today.