The second round of the Empress's Cup JFA 41st Japan Women's Football Championship is scheduled to take place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November at various locations nationwide.

At the second round, two time defending champions, Nippon TV Beleza (Nadeshiko1/Tokyo) will make their appearance, as they seek for the triple crown after winning this year’s Nadeshiko League and the League Cup. Nippon TV Beleza is also scheduled to compete at the AFC Women's Club Championship 2019 - FIFA/AFC Pilot Tournament, scheduled to take place at Korea Republic from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 26. Despite the tough schedule, the team will seek to claim this year’s Japan Women’s football triple crown. They will face Yamato Sylphid (Nadeshiko2/Kanagawa) on Saturday 23.

Another first division side from the Nadeshiko League, Iga FC Kunoichi (Nadeshiko1/Mie), will be welcoming Niigata University of Health and Welfare (Hokushinetsu/Niigata) to their home stadium. Iga FC has fought through five consecutive matches in five days to earn the title of the Ibaraki National Sports Festival of Japan, and they are seeking to win their second title of the season.

After finishing just three points behind Nippon TV Beleza at the Nadeshiko League, Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (Nadeshiko1/Saitama) will seek for redemption in this season’s final tournament. A high school side, Tokiwagi Gakuen High School (Tohoku/Miyagi) will challenge to pull off a major upset in the second round.

With six championships in the past decade, INAC Kobe Leonessa (Nadeshiko1/Hyogo) has collected more titles at the Empress's Cup than Nippon TV Beleza, and they will be seeking for their first title since 2016. The team will face Fujieda Junshin Senior High School (Tokai/Shizuoka), a school where their key player, SUGITA Hina has attended until 2014.

Albirex Niigata Ladies (Nadeshiko1/Niigata) also has the luxury to play their first match of the tournament at their home stadium, when they welcome Hokkaido Bunkyo University Meisei High School (Hokkaido) to Niigata Athletic Stadium. JEF United Chiba Ladies (Nadeshiko1/Chiba) is also scheduled to play their first match in Niigata, as they will face Okayama Sakuyo High School (Chugoku/Okayama) on Saturday.

Eight fixtures are scheduled to take place on Sunday 24, including the match between Nittaidai FIELDS Yokohama (Nadeshiko1/Kanagawa) and Waseda University (Kanto/Tokyo). After defeating Kibi International University Charme Okayama Takahashi (Chugoku/Okayama) in the first round, Waseda University will seek to claim back to back victories against university based teams at this tournament.

The Empress's Cup features wide variety of teams from high schools to the top division of the Nadeshiko League. The 16 fixtures of the second round will take place between Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November at various locations in Japan.

Empress's Cup JFA 41st Japan Women's Football Championship

Tournament Dates: Sat. 2 November - Sun. 29 December 2019
【1st Round】Sat. 2 & Sun. 3 November
【2nd Round】Sat. 23 & Sun. 24 November
【3rd Round】Sat. 30 November & Sun. 1 December
【Quarterfinals】Sun. 8 December
【Semi-Finals】Sun. 22 December
【Final】Sun. 29 December

Tournament Information