JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

Japan women's national football team head coach Nils Nielsen (C) celebrates after guiding his team to the Asian Cup title in Sydney on March 21, 2026. The Japan Football Association said on April 2 that it has decided not to renew Nielsen's contract as the team's skipper despite the victory.

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

Norio Sasaki, a Japan Football Association senior official in charge of the women's national team, holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 2, 2026, after the JFA decided not to renew Nils Nielsen's contract as the team's head coach, less than two weeks after he guided them to the Women's Asian Cup title.

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

JFA to part ways with women's national coach Nielsen

Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto holds a press conference in Tokyo on April 2, 2026, after the JFA decided not to renew Nils Nielsen's contract as the women's national team head coach, less than two weeks after he guided them to the Women's Asian Cup title.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen (C) and his players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen (C) and his players celebrate after winning the Women's Asian Cup football final against Australia in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (R) reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after beating Australia in the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano reacts after opening the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (back, L) opens the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan's Maika Hamano (back, L) opens the scoring in the first half of the Women's Asian Cup football final in Sydney on March 21, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup by beating South Korea 4-1 in a semifinal in Sydney on March 18, 2026. Nadeshiko Japan will face hosts Australia in the final.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players pose for a photo after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players huddle after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players celebrate after qualifying for the Women's World Cup with their Asian Cup quarterfinal win over the Philippines in Sydney on March 15, 2026.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan head coach Nils Nielsen holds a press conference in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Football: Women's Asian Cup

Japan players train in Sydney on March 14, 2026, the eve of a football Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against the Philippines.

Manager of Japan women's national football team

Manager of Japan women's national football team

Manager of Japan women's national football team Nils Nielsen speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 12, 2026, as the Japan Football Association unveils the Nadeshiko Japan squad for the Asian Cup in March.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after defeating Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu attends a press conference at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025, after a 6-0 victory over Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Mao Hosoya (L) of Japan scores in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Ryoya Morishita of Japan reacts after scoring in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (15) of Japan reacts after scoring the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu (L) and captain Takefusa Kubo attend a press conference at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025, after a 6-0 victory over Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (C) of Japan scores the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Takefusa Kubo (R) of Japan celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Takefusa Kubo of Japan celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan players acknowledge the crowd after defeating Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Takefusa Kubo (2nd from R) of Japan scores the team's second goal during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Takefusa Kubo (2nd from R) of Japan scores the team's second goal during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu attends a press conference at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025, after a 6-0 victory over Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu attends a press conference at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025, after a 6-0 victory over Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Mao Hosoya (L) of Japan scores in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Takefusa Kubo of Japan attends a press conference at Panasonic Stadium in Suita in Osaka Prefecture on June 10, 2025, after a 6-0 victory over Indonesia in a football World Cup Asian qualifier.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Ryoya Morishita of Japan reacts after scoring in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Ryoya Morishita of Japan reacts after scoring in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Shuto Machino (R, top) of Japan scores in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Shuto Machino of Japan reacts after scoring in the second half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.