The quarter-finals of the 96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship will be held on Saturday 24 December. The four games – Yokohama F・Marinos vs Gamba Osaka, Kashima Antlers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Omiya Ardija vs Shonan Bellmare, and F.C. Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frontale – will be played across the sites.

The J.League champions Kashima will play a home game against Hiroshima at Kashima Soccer Stadium. Kashima succeeded in finishing in second place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2016 in Japan, which ended on Sunday 18 December. The team went toe to toe against Real Madrid (Spain), one of the top club teams in the world, and drew much attention from home and abroad. Although many of the quarter-finalists will have a three-week break before the semi-final in the Emperor's Cup, Kashima have played seven matches, from the J.League Championship semi-finals on Wednesday 23 November to the Club World Cup final in a tight schedule. The team may have some concerns about their condition, but have gained immeasurable motivation and confidence as the team by becoming the runner-up in the world club competition. On top of that, since it will be ‘a triumphal return’ to their home stadium, their fans and supporters will definitely encourage the team even more.

Hiroshima, on the other hand, have announced that SATO Hisato will move to Nagoya Grampus and that MORISAKI Koji will retire after this season. The team are eager to achieve a successful conclusion at Kashima Soccer Stadium for their symbolic players.

F.C. Tokyo will meet Kawasaki F for the third time this season. F.C. Tokyo, who had completed a come-from-behind victory in the Round of 16 against the only remaining regional representative, Honda FC (Shizuoka), lost to Kawasaki F twice in the league. The team ended in ninth place, but finished the league with four consecutive wins, building up momentum for the Emperor's Cup.

Although Kawasaki F finished in second place on points in the J. League Division 1, they failed to clinch the title of the J.League Championship by losing to third-placed Kashima in the semi-final. However, there were some positive news: NAKAMURA Kengo won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the eldest player in the J. League awards. The 36-year-old player, who has been playing for Kawasaki F for 14 years, will lead the team to a long-awaited title with revenge on their minds.

Omiya and Shonan finished the J.League with opposite results. Omiya achieved fifth place on points this year, which was a big improvement from their previous record of 12th place. Shonan, on the other hand, got relegated to the J2 for the first time in three seasons. There will be much to see in the match between Omiya’s solid defence and Shonan’s aggressive playing style.

G Osaka, who aim to win three consecutive championships for the first time in history, will play against Yokohama FM at the Nissan Stadium. G Osaka have earned the title five times in the past, while Yokohama FM and the former team Nissan Motor have won it seven times, including the 93rd Cup. The contest between the two big names in the history of the Emperor's Cup is expected to be exciting.

The winners will advance to the semi-finals on Thursday 29 December, and the final will be held on Sunday 1 January at Suita City Football Stadium. The champions will book a place in the AFC Champions League 2017 alongside the title of the best in Japan.

96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship

2016-8-27(Sat.)〜2017-1-1(Sun.)

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