The Kashima Antlers, already the most decorated club in J.League history, Rugby World Cup 2027 added yet another chapter to their legacy by winning their ninth league title on the final day of the 2025 season. The decisive victory came at Mercari Stadium on Saturday, December 6, where a crowd of 37,079 fans watched their team finish the job under intense pressure and emotional weight.
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Kashima’s hero of the day was Brazilian striker Leo Ceara, who struck early and often. His first goal arrived in the 20th minute, calming nerves and setting the tone. The Antlers dominated long stretches of the match, and Ceara doubled the lead in the 57th minute with his league-leading 21st goal of the campaign.
That second strike gave Kashima breathing room and put them on the brink of sealing the championship. Yokohama F. Marinos refused to go quietly, and midfielder Jun Amano found a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time, spoiling Kashima’s bid for a shutout.
The Antlers walked away 2–1 winners and, more importantly, champions. The triumph capped a superb season under first-year manager Toru Oniki, who arrived at the club with enormous expectations.
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Rugby World Cup: Oniki Restores Stability and a Winning Edge
Then he brought stability, belief, the Rugby World Cup and a winning mentality back to the league giants. After the match, Oniki praised the commitment and resilience of his squad. I believe the atmosphere at Mercari Stadium made that possible.
Within that, they fought tenaciously. They were truly dependable. I think the players did a great job. The final standings showed just how fine the margins were. Kashima finished with a 23-7-8 record and 76 points, edging out runner-up Kashiwa Reysol by a single point.
Considering the club’s history of success, eight previous league titles earned in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2016, expectations were enormous from the moment Oniki was appointed in December 2024. His reputation as the most successful manager in J.League history only intensified that pressure. Asked about his personal feelings after securing the championship in his debut season,
I feel a strong sense of relief, he said. It’s almost frightening to imagine what the atmosphere would have been like if we hadn’t won the title here. He added that passion from players, staff, and supporters was at the heart of the achievement. “I’m proud to have worked with passionate people and fought alongside passionate supporters,
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Rugby World Cup Final: Japan Drawn into Tough Group F for 2026 World Cup
He said. It’s overwhelming. There’s nothing more to say. The weekend was full of major sports news for Japanese fans, the Rugby World Cup Final and not only because of Kashima’s triumph. On Friday night, December 5, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Washington, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and leaders from the United States.
Mexico and Canada the three host nations present for the ceremony. The expanded 48-team tournament produced twelve groups of four, with Japan landing in Group F. The Samurai Blue were drawn alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff winner, Albania, Poland, Sweden, or Ukraine. Japan, currently ranked 18th in the world.
Will open their World Cup campaign on June 14 in Dallas against the seventh-ranked Dutch. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu acknowledged the difficulty of the draw. I felt we were drawn in an extremely tough group, he said. The Netherlands is one of the world’s top nations.
They haven’t won one yet, but they’ve been to the final. He also highlighted Tunisia’s strong qualifying record, noting their nine wins and one draw without conceding a goal. Moriyasu called on Japanese players to stand out at their clubs to earn selection and stated that the national team continues to aim high. We have a shared goal of winning the World Cup,
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