The J-League Century Vision League has adopted a different format this year, with half of its matches decided by penalty shootouts due to ongoing issues in Japanese soccer.
The J-League Century Vision League has implemented a unique tournament format this year, notably including penalty shootouts if matches remain tied after 90 minutes of play. In the first match of the J1 opening day between Kyoto Sanga and Vissel Kobe, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to the first penalty shootout in the league since 1998, where the Kobe goalkeeper, Daiki Maekawa, notably saved two opponent kicks, securing a 4-1 victory for Kyoto. Maekawa expressed that he has trained specifically for penalty situations, aiming to become a hero during such moments.
The introduction of penalty shootouts highlights existing challenges within Japanese soccer, particularly concerning the national team's past performances in the FIFA World Cup. Japan has advanced to the knockout stage four times but has lost in two of those instances during penalty shootouts, including their recent loss to Croatia in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This bears significance as J-League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonoyama noted that when the national team has struggled with penalty shootouts in the World Cup, there is a demand for the J-League to also incorporate them, especially in a unique competition like the Century Vision League that allows for such innovations.
The adaptation of penalty shootouts could serve to better prepare players for international competitions, especially as penalty results can play a decisive role in high-stakes matches. The Century Vision League is looking to challenge the status quo and help develop more robust players who can face these situations during World Cup qualifiers and tournaments. As such, the introduction of this format not only tests the players' abilities under pressure but also seeks to address the broader issues that have affected the performance of Japanese soccer on the world stage.
