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2026–27 J.League Cup

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2026–27 J.League Cup
2026/27 Jリーグ ヤマザキビスケット ルヴァンカップ
Tournament details
CountryJapan
Dates2 September – TBC
Teams60
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored140 (2.92 per match)
Attendance150,775 (3,141 per match)
Top goal scorerSota Yamamoto
← 2025
2027–28 →

All statistics correct as of 21:38, 15 October 2026 (UTC).

The 2026–27 J.League Cup, known as the 2026/27 J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup (Japanese: 2026/27 Jリーグ ヤマザキビスケット ルヴァンカップ) for sponsorship reasons, is the 34th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition.[1] It is the third season all 60 J.League clubs participate in the League Cup.

Format

[edit]

All 60 clubs from the 2026–27 season's J1, J2, and J3 League are participating. The tournament is divided into two sections, each with a different format: the first round and the prime round.[2]

Six clubs are participating in 2026–27 AFC club competitions: Kashima Antlers and Vissel Kobe in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite, and Machida Zelvia, Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka and Kyoto Sanga in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two. These six clubs are seeded according to their combined ranking in the 2025 J1 League and J1 100 Year Vision League standings, which determines their entry point into the competition.[3]

First round

[edit]

Kashima and Kobe, the two highest-ranked of the six AFC-competition clubs, are exempted from the first round entirely and advance directly to the prime round.

Machida, Kashiwa, Gamba Osaka and Kyoto, ranked third to sixth respectively among the AFC-competition clubs, are seeded into the fourth round of this bracket, where they face one another (third-ranked vs. sixth-ranked, and fourth-ranked vs. fifth-ranked) rather than entering from the first round proper.

The remaining 54 clubs – 14 from J1 and 20 each from J2 and J3 – are divided into four groups, each contested as a single-elimination tournament.

As a general rule, matches are hosted by the club from the lower division, or, where both clubs are in the same division, by the club that finished lower in the 2025 season. The fourth-round ties involving Machida, Kashiwa, Gamba Osaka and Kyoto are an exception: these are hosted by whichever of the two clubs held the higher combined 2025 ranking (Machida and Kashiwa, respectively).

Extra time and a penalty shootout will be used to decide the winner of any matches ending in a draw.

The six group winners advance to the prime round, joining Kashima and Kobe to make up a field of eight clubs.

The first round groups are as follows:

First round grouping
Group Teams
1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
(J1 4th place)		 Shimizu S-Pulse
(J1 14th place)		 Yokohama F. Marinos
(J1 15th place)		 Shonan Bellmare
(J1 19th place)
Albirex Niigata
(J1 20th place)		 Montedio Yamagata
(J2 10th place)		 FC Imabari
(J2 11th place)		 Tochigi City
(J3 1st place)
Vanraure Hachinohe
(J3 2nd place)		 Zweigen Kanazawa
(J3 6th place)		 Tochigi SC
(J3 7th place)		 Thespa Gunma
(J3 14th place)
Matsumoto Yamaga
(J3 15th place)
2 Urawa Red Diamonds
(J1 7th place)		 Fagiano Okayama
(J1 13th place)		 Nagoya Grampus
(J1 16th place)		 Yokohama FC
(J1 18th place)
Tokushima Vortis
(J2 4th place)		 Iwaki FC
(J2 9th place)		 Consadole Sapporo
(J2 12th place)		 Kataller Toyama
(J2 17th place)
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
(J3 4th place)		 Kagoshima United FC
(J3 5th place)		 Giravanz Kitakyushu
(J3 8th place)		 FC Gifu
(J3 13th place)
FC Ryukyu
(J3 16th place)
3 Kawasaki Frontale
(J1 8th place)		 Avispa Fukuoka
(J1 12th place)		 Tokyo Verdy
(J1 17th place)		 JEF United Chiba
(J2 3rd place)
Júbilo Iwata
(J2 5th place)		 Sagan Tosu
(J2 8th place)		 Ventforet Kofu
(J2 13th place)		 Oita Trinita
(J2 16th place)
Roasso Kumamoto
(J2 18th place)		 FC Osaka
(J3 3rd place)		 Nara Club
(J3 9th place)		 SC Sagamihara
(J3 12th place)
Kamatamare Sanuki
(J3 17th place)		 Reilac Shiga
(JFL 2nd place)
4 Cerezo Osaka
(J1 10th place)		 FC Tokyo
(J1 11th place)		 Mito HollyHock
(J2 1st place)		 V-Varen Nagasaki
(J2 2nd place)
Omiya Ardija
(J2 6th place)		 Vegalta Sendai
(J2 7th place)		 Blaublitz Akita
(J2 14th place)		 Fujieda MYFC
(J2 15th place)
Renofa Yamaguchi
(J2 19th place)		 Ehime FC
(J2 20th place)		 Fukushima United
(J3 10th place)		 Gainare Tottori
(J3 11th place)
Kochi United
(J3 18th place)		 Nagano Parceiro
(J3 19th place)

Prime round

[edit]

The prime round is a single-elimination tournament among the eight qualified clubs, generally hosted at each participating club's home ground, with the exception of the final, which is played at a neutral venue.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals are played over two legs. In the case of a tie, the winner will be determined firstly by goal difference, then extra time and a penalty shootout if necessary.

The final is a single match, also decided by extra time and then a penalty shootout if required.

Prize money

[edit]

The top three teams at the end of the tournament receive prize money of ¥150 million (US$947,472.14) for the winners, ¥50 million (US$315,824.05) for runners-up, and ¥25 million (US$157,912.02) for third place.

Schedule

[edit]

The schedule was announced on 22 June 2026.[4][5]

Stage Round Date
First round Round 1 2–9 September
Round 2 29 September
Round 3 14 October
Round 4 28 October
3 October
Prime round Quarter-finals 11 November (First leg)
15 November (Second leg)
Semi-finals 24 March (First leg)
28 March (Second leg)
Final TBC

First round

[edit]

Group 1

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
29 September – Tochigi
Tochigi City0
2 September – Hachinohe
Sanfrecce Hiroshima2
Vanraure Hachinohe0
14 October – Matsumoto
Tochigi City2
Matsumoto Yamaga0
9 September – Matsumoto
Sanfrecce Hiroshima1
Matsumoto Yamaga (p)3 (4)
29 September – Matsumoto
Shonan Bellmare3 (3)
Matsumoto Yamaga1
2 September – Maebashi
Albirex Niigata0
Thespa Gunma1
28 October – Yokohama
Albirex Niigata2
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Yokohama F. Marinos
29 September – Kanazawa
Zweigen Kanazawa0
2 September – Kanazawa
Shimizu S-Pulse2
Zweigen Kanazawa2
14 October – Yokohama
FC Imabari1
Yokohama F. Marinos2
Shimizu S-Pulse1
29 September – Tendō
Montedio Yamagata1
9 September – Utsunomiya
Yokohama F. Marinos2
Tochigi SC0
Montedio Yamagata1
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Vanraure Hachinohe (2)0–2 (2) Tochigi City Hachinohe
18:30 Report
Stadium: Prifoods Stadium
Attendance: 923
Referee: Ryosuke Yamaoka
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1 Matsumoto Yamaga (3) 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		(2) Shonan BellmareMatsumoto
19:00
Report
Stadium: Sunpro Alwin
Attendance: 2,282
Referee: Tomoaki Kitazawa
Penalties
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Thespa Gunma (3)1–2 (2) Albirex Niigata Maebashi
19:03
Report
Stadium: Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
Attendance: 1,874
Referee: Shingo Kuniyoshi
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 Zweigen Kanazawa (3) 2–1(2) FC ImabariKanazawa
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ishikawa Athletics Stadium
Attendance: 1,481
Referee: Yuki Tanabe
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1Tochigi SC (2)0–1 (3) Montedio Yamagata Utsunomiya
19:03 Report
Stadium: kanseki Stadium Tochigi
Attendance: 1,696
Referee: Yuki Tanabe
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Tochigi City (2)0–2 (1) Sanfrecce Hiroshima Tochigi
19:03 Report
Stadium: City Football Station
Attendance: 2,260
Referee: Jumpei Iida
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2 Matsumoto Yamaga (3) 1–0(2) Albirex NiigataMatsumoto
19:03
Report Stadium: Sunpro Alwin
Attendance: 3,089
Referee: Genki Tawara
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Zweigen Kanazawa (3)0–2 (1) Shimizu S-Pulse Kanazawa
19:04 Report
Stadium: Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium
Attendance: 2,851
Referee: Yoshito Nakagawa
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Montedio Yamagata (2)1–2 (1) Yokohama F. Marinos Tendō
19:03
Report
Stadium: NDsoft Stadium Yamagata
Attendance: 5,065
Referee: Hayato Shimizu
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3Matsumoto Yamaga (3)0–1 (1) Sanfrecce Hiroshima Matsumoto
19:03 Report
Stadium: Sunpro Alwin
Attendance: 4,757
Referee: Takuya Kobayashi
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3 Yokohama F.Marinos (1) 2–1(1) Shimizu S-PulseYokohama
19:03
Report
Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Attendance: 8,879
Referee: Takafumi Mikuriya

Group 2

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
29 September – Toyama
Kataller Toyama2
2 September – Shintomi
Urawa Red Diamonds3
Tegevajaro Miyazaki1
14 October – Yokohama
Kataller Toyama2
Yokohama FC0
2 September – Okinawa
Urawa Red Diamonds4
FC Ryukyu2
29 September – Gifu
Yokohama FC3
FC Gifu1
2 September – Gifu
Yokohama FC2
FC Gifu (p)0 (3)
28 October – Gifu
Tokushima Vortis0 (1)
Urawa Red Diamonds
Nagoya Grampus
29 September – Sapporo
Consadole Sapporo1
2 September – Kagoshima
Fagiano Okayama2
Kagoshima United0
14 October – Gifu
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo1
Nagoya Grampus (p)3 (4)
Fagiano Okayama3 (3)
29 September – Kitakyushu
Giravanz Kitakyushu1
2 September – Kitakyushu
Nagoya Grampus3
Giravanz Kitakyushu1
Iwaki FC0
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Tegevajaro Miyazaki (2)1–2 (2) Kataller Toyama Shintomi
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ichigo Miyazaki Shintomi Football Stadium
Attendance: 1,181
Referee: Yoshikazu Matsuzawa
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1FC Ryukyu (3)2–3 (2) Yokohama FC Okinawa
19:03
Report
Stadium: Okinawa Athletic Park Stadium
Attendance: 842
Referee: Ryo Munakata
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 FC Gifu (3) 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		(2) Tokushima VortisGifu
19:03 Report Stadium: Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium
Attendance: 1,607
Referee: Ryu Mashio
Penalties
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Kagoshima United (2)0–1 (2) Consadole Sapporo Kagoshima
19:03 Report
Stadium: Shiranami Stadium
Attendance: 3,713
Referee: Takuya Kobayashi
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 Giravanz Kitakyushu (3) 1–0(2) Iwaki FCKitakyushu
19:03
Report Stadium: Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 1,989
Referee: Shinya Sasaki
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Kataller Toyama (2)2–3 (1) Urawa Reds Toyama
19:03
Report
Stadium: Toyama Stadium
Attendance: 8,209
Referee: Atsushi Kamimura
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2FC Gifu (3)1–2 (2) Yokohama FC Gifu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium
Attendance: 1,468
Referee: Toshihiro Nakai
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Consadole Sapporo (2)1–2 (1) Fagiano Okayama Sapporo
19:03
Report
Stadium: Daiwa House Premist Dome
Attendance: 4,138
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Giravanz Kitakyushu (3)1–3 (1) Nagoya Grampus Kitakyushu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Attendance: 3,704
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3Yokohama FC (2)0–4 (1) Urawa Reds Yokohama
18:33 Report
Stadium: NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium
Attendance: 5,338
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3 Nagoya Grampus (1) 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		(1) Fagiano OkayamaGifu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium
Attendance: 4,410
Referee: Koei Koya
Penalties

Group 3

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
29 September – Kumamoto
Roasso Kumamoto0
2 September – Kumamoto
Kawasaki Frontale1
Roasso Kumamoto2
14 October – Iwata
Oita Trinita0
Júbilo Iwata0
9 September – Marugame
Kawasaki Frontale4
Kamatamare Sanuki0
29 September – Iwata
JEF United Chiba2
Júbilo Iwata4
2 September – Sagamihara
JEF United Chiba2
SC Sagamihara0
28 October - Tosu
Júbilo Iwata2
Kawasaki Frontale
Sagan Tosu
29 September – Yamaguchi
FC Osaka1
2 September – Kyoto
Avispa Fukuoka (a.e.t.)2
FC Osaka3
14 October – Tosu
Ventforet Kofu0
Sagan Tosu2
9 September – Hikone
Avispa Fukuoka1
Reilac Shiga0
29 September – Tosu
Tokyo Verdy1
Sagan Tosu (a.e.t.)2
2 September – Nara
Tokyo Verdy1
Nara Club1
Sagan Tosu2
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 Roasso Kumamoto (3) 2–0(2) Oita TrinitaKumamoto
19:03
Report Stadium: Egao Kenko Stadium
Attendance: 2,436
Referee: Fumiya Honda
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1Kamatamare Sanuki (3)0–2 (1) JEF United Chiba Marugame
19:03 Report
Stadium: Shikoku Kasei Meglio Stadium
Attendance: 1,134
Referee: Yoshito Nakagawa
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1SC Sagamihara (3)0–3 (2) Júbilo Iwata Sagamihara
18:33 Report
Stadium: Sagamihara Gion Stadium
Attendance: 2,297
Referee: Yosuke Kubota
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 FC Osaka (3) 3–0(2) Ventforet KofuKyoto
19:03
Report Stadium: Takebishi Stadium Kyoto
Attendance: 627
Referee: Kai Oto
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1Reilac Shiga (3)0–1 (1) Tokyo Verdy Hikone
18:33 Report
Stadium: Heiwado HATO Stadium
Attendance: 2,885
Referee: Yuzo Sutani
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Nara Club (3)1–2 (2) Sagan Tosu Nara
19:03
Report
Stadium: Rohto Field Nara
Attendance: 822
Referee: Kohei Yano
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Roasso Kumamoto (3)0–1 (1) Kawasaki Frontale Kumamoto
19:03 Report
Stadium: Egao Kenko Stadium
Attendance: 6,682
Referee: Koei Koya
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2 Júbilo Iwata (2) 4–2(1) JEF United ChibaIwata
19:03
Report
Stadium: Yamaha Stadium
Attendance: 2,892
Referee: Takafumi Mikuriya
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2FC Osaka (3)1–2 (a.e.t.) (1) Avispa Fukuoka Yamaguchi
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ishin Me-Life Stadium
Attendance: 1,002
Referee: Keigo Sendachi
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2 Sagan Tosu (2) 2–1 (a.e.t.)(1) Tokyo VerdyTosu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Attendance: 2,658
Referee: Masuya Ueda
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3Jubilo Iwata (2)0–4 (1) Kawasaki Frontale Iwata
19:03 Report
Stadium: Yamaha Stadium
Attendance: 4,656
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3 Sagan Tosu (2) 2–1(1) Avispa FukuokaTosu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Attendance: 10,147
Referee: Hayato Shimizu

Group 4

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
29 September – Fujieda
Fujieda MYFC1
2 September – Yamaguchi
Cerezo Osaka2
Renofa Yamaguchi0
14 October – Tottori
Fujieda MYFC2
Gainare Tottori2
9 September – Haruno
Cerezo Osaka3
Kochi United0
29 September – Tottori
V-Varen Nagasaki1
Gainare Tottori2
2 September – Tottori
V-Varen Nagasaki0
Gainare Tottori3
28 October - Mito
RB Omiya Ardija1
Cerezo Osaka
Mito HollyHock
29 September – Matsuyama
Ehime FC0
2 September – Matsuyama
FC Tokyo2
Ehime FC1
14 October – Mito
Blaublitz Akita0
Mito HollyHock1
9 September – Nagano
FC Tokyo0
AC Nagano Parceiro0 (1)
29 September – Fukushima
Mito HollyHock (p)0 (4)
Fukushima United0
9 September – Fukushima
Mito HollyHock7
Fukushima United4
Vegalta Sendai3
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1Renofa Yamaguchi (3)0–2 (2) Fujieda MYFC Yamaguchi
19:03 Report
Stadium: Ishin Me-Life Stadium
Attendance: 2,308
Referee: Hirokazu Otsubo
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1Kochi United (3)0–1 (1) V-Varen Nagasaki Haruno
19:03 Report
Stadium: GIKEN Stadium
Attendance: 1,358
Referee: Takuya Kobayashi
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 Gainare Tottori (3) 3–1(2) RB Omiya ArdijaTottori
19:04
Report
Stadium: Axis Bird Stadium
Attendance: 1,241
Referee: Tatsuya Sakai
2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) Round 1 Ehime FC (3) 1–0(2) Blaublitz AkitaMatsuyama
19:03
Report Stadium: Ningineer Stadium
Attendance: 2,060
Referee: Michiaki Kitazawa
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1AC Nagano Parceiro (3)0–0 (a.e.t.)
(1–4 p)		 (1) Mito HollyHock Nagano
19:03 Report Stadium: Nagano U Stadium
Attendance: 1,922
Referee: Takahito Seta
Penalties
9 September 2026 (2026-09-09) Round 1 Fukushima United (3) 4–3(2) Vegalta SendaiFukushima
19:03
Report
Stadium: Toho Stadium
Attendance: 2,262
Referee: Tomohiro Inoue
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Fujieda MYFC (2)1–2 (1) Cerezo Osaka Fujieda
19:03
Stadium: Fujieda Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 2,024
Referee: Takahito Seta
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2 Gainare Tottori (3) 2–0(1) V-Varen NagasakiTottori
19:03
Report Stadium: Axis Bird Stadium
Attendance: 1,255
Referee: Yuzo Sutani
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Ehime FC (3)0–2 (1) FC Tokyo Matsuyama
19:03 Report
Stadium: Ningineer Stadium
Attendance: 3,529
Referee: Akihiko Ikeuchi
29 September 2026 (2026-09-29) Round 2Fukushima United FC (3)0–7 (1) Mito HollyHock Fukushima
19:03 Report
Stadium: Toho Stadium
Attendance: 1,011
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3Gainare Tottori (3)2–3 (1) Cerezo Osaka Tottori
19:03
Report
Stadium: Axis Bird Stadium
Attendance: 3,693
Referee: Yoshito Nakagawa
14 October 2026 (2026-10-14) Round 3 Mito HollyHock (1) 1–0(1) FC TokyoMito
19:03
Report Stadium: K's denki Stadium Mito
Attendance: 3,163
Referee: Masuya Ueda

Group 5

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
3 October – Machida
Machida Zelvia (p)0 (5)
Kyoto Sanga0 (3)
3 October 2026 (2026-10-03) Round 4 Machida Zelvia (1) 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		(1) Kyoto SangaMachida
16:00 Report Stadium: Machida GION Stadium
Attendance: 4,437
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
Penalties

Group 6

[edit]
Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
              
3 October – Kashiwa
Kashiwa Reysol (a.e.t.)5
Gamba Osaka4
3 October 2026 (2026-10-03) Round 4 Kashiwa Reysol (1) 5–4 (a.e.t.)(1) Gamba OsakaKashiwa
19:03
Report
Stadium: Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
Attendance: 10,518
Referee: Hayato Shimizu

Prime round

[edit]

The prime round will begin with quarter-finals held in November 2026.

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 14 October 2026
RankPlayerClubGoals[6]
1 Japan Sota Yamamoto Gainare Tottori 3
2 17 players 2

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Levain Cup | Official Website of J.LEAGUE". The official Website of J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "【公式】ルヴァンカップ 大会概要". Ｊリーグ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "公益社団法人 日本プロサッカーリーグ（Ｊリーグ）". 公益社団法人 日本プロサッカーリーグ（Ｊリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "【公式】２０２６／２７Ｊリーグ ヤマザキビスケット ルヴァンカップ 日程発表！ | Ｊリーグ公式サイト". www.jleague.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "【公式】ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 2026年9月2日〜2027年3月28日の日程・結果". Ｊリーグ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "2026/27 Season - Top scorers | Levain Cup Player Stats | Official Website of J.LEAGUE". The official Website of J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
[edit]


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