| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Júbilo | 1:2 ext. 1:2 | Antlers | 21/11/1998 28/11/1998 | National stadium (J) Kashima |
Antlers as J.League champion shall be eligible to play in Asian Club Championship 1999/00.
Júbilo as Asian Club champion 1998/99 shall be eligible to play in Asian Club Championship 1999/00.
Antlers as J.League champion shall be eligible to play in Super Cup 1999.
| Final Ranking | Win(V/s.o)/Loss(V/s.o) | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KASHIMA Antlers | 26(4,0)/8(0,0) | 79 | 36 | 74 |
| Júbilo IWATA | 26(0,0)/8(1,0) | 107 | 68 | 78 |
| SHIMIZU S-Pulse | 25(3,1)/9(0,1) | 71 | 36 | 70 |
| YOKOHAMA Marinos | 22(2,0)/12(4,0) | 79 | 31 | 64 |
| NAGOYA Grampus eight | 23(4,1)/11(1,1) | 71 | 24 | 63 |
| URAWA Red Diamonds | 22(1,2)/12(3,0) | 62 | 22 | 61 |
| z- YOKOHAMA Flügels | 19(2,2)/15(0,0) | 70 | 6 | 51 |
| KASHIWA Reysol | 18(1,3)/16(2,1) | 56 | -5 | 47 |
| Cerezo OSAKA | 15(1,0)/19(1,1) | 56 | -23 | 44 |
| Sanfrecce HIROSHIMA | 16(3,1)/18(3,3) | 45 | -7 | 43 |
| Bellmare HIRATSUKA | 16(2,2)/18(1,0) | 53 | -13 | 42 |
| Verdy KAWASAKI | 13(0,0)/21(2,2) | 47 | -6 | 39 |
| KYOTO Purple Sanga | 15(4,1)/19(3,0) | 47 | -16 | 39 |
| z'- Consadole SAPPORO | 12(1,0)/22(3,4) | 57 | -17 | 35 |
| Gamba OSAKA | 12(4,1)/22(1,1) | 47 | -14 | 30 |
| z'- JEF united ICHIHARA | 9(0,1)/25(4,1) | 49 | -26 | 25 |
| z'- Vissel KOBE | 9(0,1)/25(2,0) | 45 | -44 | 25 |
| z'- Avispa FUKUOKA | 8(1,1)/26(2,2) | 33 | -52 | 21 |
J.League matches are played in two stages. During each stage, each team meets every other team once either at home or away (the home and away teams are reversed in the second stage).
If different teams win the two stages, the two stage winners play-off for the championship to determine the overall first and second places.
J.League Championship team is winner of play-off matches for the championship, and runner-up is loser of the matches. Rankings below third place are determined by adding the points for the both stages.
In J.League, when regulation time of league match play fails to determine a winner, teams play a 'V-goal'(golden-goal) extra time. If the match is still undecided, the winning team is decided in a penalty shoot-out.
Teams are allotted three points for a win in regulation play, two points for a 'V-goal'(golden-goal) extra time win, one point for a shoot-out extra time win, and no points for a loss.
The ranking is determined as follows: 1) total of all points, 2) goal difference, 3) total of goals.
J.League shall implement a two-division system in next season.
The top thirteen teams(*) of the league shall be eligible to play in J1 (division-1) 1999.
The rest of teams and associate clubs shall play in play-off matches for division-1, and three winning teams of the play-off matches also shall be eligible to play in J1 (division-1) 1999.
*) The ranking is determined by adding the ranking points for two seasons (1997 and 1998).
Flügels withdraws from the league at the end of this season, and is takenover by Marinos.
The scores of away matches in my documents are italic small violet numbers.
The first match day is 21st March, and the last match day is 8th August 1998, interrupted by FIFA World Cup France 1998 from 10th May to 26th July.
| Home team | JUB | SSP | GRA | MAR | ANT | VER | RED | FLU | CER | REY | JEF | BEL | SAN | GAM | KPS | CON | VIS | AVI | Win(V/s.o)/Loss(V/s.o) | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- Júbilo IWATA | 1:2 | 2:1 | 1:0 | 0:3 | 0:1 | 2:0 | 4:0 | 9:1 | 3:1 | 1:3 | 3:1 | 5:0 | 4:1 | 2:0 | 4:0 | 4:3 | 7:1 | 13(0,0)/4(0,0) | 52 | 34 | 39 | |
| SHIMIZU S-Pulse | 2:1 | 3:1 | 1:0 | 2:3 | 0:2 | 2:0 | 2:0 | 3:1 | 0:2 | 1:0 | 2:1 | 1:0 | 2:1 | 0:1 | 4:1 | 4:0 | 3:0 | 13(0,0)/4(0,0) | 32 | 18 | 39 | |
| NAGOYA Grampus eight | 1:2 | 1:3 | 3:1 | 3:0 | 2:0 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 0:2 | 3:2 ext. | 2:1 | 5:0 | 3:2 ext. | 0:0 ext. (1:3) | 3:1 | 2:1 ext. | 2:3 | 2:1 | 12(3,0)/5(0,1) | 37 | 16 | 33 | |
| YOKOHAMA Marinos | 0:1 | 0:1 | 1:3 | 1:0 | 4:2 | 1:0 | 1:2 ext. | 3:4 | 4:0 | 1:2 | 4:1 | 4:0 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 4:0 | 2:1 ext. | 5:2 | 11(1,0)/6(1,0) | 39 | 18 | 32 | |
| KASHIMA Antlers | 3:0 | 3:2 | 0:3 | 0:1 | 3:1 | 1:4 | 2:3 | 3:2 ext. | 2:3 | 4:1 | 1:0 | 2:3 | 1:0 | 6:0 | 3:1 | 2:0 | 4:2 | 11(1,0)/6(0,0) | 41 | 13 | 32 | |
| Verdy KAWASAKI | 1:0 | 2:0 | 0:2 | 2:4 | 1:3 | 1:1 ext. (2:4) | 3:0 | 2:1 | 1:3 | 2:1 | 1:4 | 1:2 ext. | 4:2 | 2:0 | 3:1 | 2:0 | 6:1 | 10(0,0)/7(1,1) | 34 | 9 | 30 | |
| URAWA Red Diamonds | 0:2 | 0:2 | 1:3 | 0:1 | 4:1 | 1:1 ext. (4:2) | 2:0 | 1:2 ext. | 3:1 | 3:2 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 2:0 | 2:1 ext. | 0:2 | 5:1 | 2:2 ext. (5:4) | 11(1,2)/6(1,0) | 30 | 7 | 28 | |
| YOKOHAMA Flügels | 0:4 | 0:2 | 1:2 | 2:1 ext. | 3:2 | 0:3 | 0:2 | 4:1 | 3:1 | 2:0 | 1:3 | 5:1 | 3:6 | 2:1 ext. | 2:2 ext. (5:3) | 4:1 | 1:0 | 10(2,1)/7(0,0) | 33 | 1 | 26 | |
| Cerezo OSAKA | 1:9 | 1:3 | 2:0 | 4:3 | 2:3 ext. | 1:2 | 2:1 ext. | 1:4 | 5:7 | 1:4 | 2:3 | 2:0 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 4:3 | 1:2 | 4:2 | 8(1,0)/9(1,0) | 36 | -11 | 23 | |
| KASHIWA Reysol | 1:3 | 2:0 | 2:3 ext. | 0:4 | 3:2 | 3:1 | 1:3 | 1:3 | 7:5 | 0:3 | 3:1 | 0:1 | 1:3 | 3:2 ext. | 1:1 ext. (5:4) | 4:0 | 0:0 ext. (4:3) | 9(1,2)/8(1,0) | 32 | -3 | 22 | |
| JEF united ICHIHARA | 3:1 | 0:1 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 1:4 | 1:2 | 2:3 | 0:2 | 4:1 | 3:0 | 1:0 | 1:3 | 2:3 ext. | 3:1 | 2:3 ext. | 1:2 | 4:2 | 7(0,0)/10(2,0) | 31 | 0 | 21 | |
| Bellmare HIRATSUKA | 1:3 | 1:2 | 0:5 | 1:4 | 0:1 | 4:1 | 1:2 | 3:1 | 3:2 | 1:3 | 0:1 | 1:0 | 2:1 ext. | 1:2 ext. | 3:3 ext. (5:4) | 2:1 | 3:2 ext. | 8(2,1)/9(1,0) | 27 | -7 | 20 | |
| Sanfrecce HIROSHIMA | 0:5 | 0:1 | 2:3 ext. | 0:4 | 3:2 | 2:1 ext. | 1:2 | 1:5 | 0:2 | 1:0 | 3:1 | 0:1 | 0:1 ext. | 2:1 | 4:3 ext. | 2:0 | 1:1 ext. (3:5) | 7(2,0)/10(2,1) | 22 | -11 | 19 | |
| Gamba OSAKA | 1:4 | 1:2 | 0:0 ext. (3:1) | 1:2 | 0:1 | 2:4 | 0:2 | 6:3 | 1:2 | 3:1 | 3:2 ext. | 1:2 ext. | 1:0 ext. | 0:1 | 0:1 | 4:0 | 3:2 | 7(2,1)/10(1,0) | 27 | -2 | 17 | |
| KYOTO Purple Sanga | 0:2 | 1:0 | 1:3 | 1:2 | 0:6 | 0:2 | 1:2 ext. | 1:2 ext. | 1:2 | 2:3 ext. | 1:3 | 2:1 ext. | 1:2 | 1:0 | 4:2 | 2:1 | 1:0 ext. | 6(2,0)/11(3,0) | 20 | -13 | 16 | |
| Consadole SAPPORO | 0:4 | 1:4 | 1:2 ext. | 0:4 | 1:3 | 1:3 | 2:0 | 2:2 ext. (3:5) | 3:4 | 1:1 ext. (4:5) | 3:2 ext. | 3:3 ext. (4:5) | 3:4 ext. | 1:0 | 2:4 | 3:2 | 1:2 | 3(1,0)/13(2,3) | 28 | -16 | 11 | |
| Vissel KOBE | 3:4 | 0:4 | 3:2 | 1:2 ext. | 2:3 | 0:2 | 1:5 | 1:4 | 2:1 | 0:4 | 2:1 | 1:2 | 0:2 | 0:4 | 1:2 | 2:3 | 1:3 | 3(0,0)/14(1,0) | 20 | -28 | 9 | |
| Avispa FUKUOKA | 1:7 | 0:3 | 1:2 | 2:5 | 2:4 | 1:6 | 2:2 ext. (4:5) | 0:1 | 2:4 | 0:0 ext. (3:4) | 2:4 | 2:3 ext. | 1:1 ext. (5:3) | 2:3 | 0:1 ext. | 2:1 | 3:1 | 3(0,1)/14(2,2) | 22 | -25 | 7 |
The first match day is 22nd August, and the last match day is 14th November 1998.
| Home team | ANT | JUB | RED | MAR | SSP | GRA | FLU | REY | SAN | CON | KPS | BEL | CER | VIS | AVI | GAM | VER | JEF | Win(V/s.o)/Loss(V/s.o) | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- KASHIMA Antlers | 1:0 | 3:2 ext. | 2:1 ext. | 2:1 | 1:0 | 1:3 | 3:0 | 0:2 | 3:2 | 3:0 | 2:0 | 2:0 | 4:1 | 3:0 | 3:1 | 2:1 ext. | 3:1 | 15(3,0)/2(0,0) | 38 | 23 | 42 | |
| Júbilo IWATA | 0:1 | 0:2 | 2:3 ext. | 1:0 | 4:2 | 4:0 | 4:0 | 1:2 | 6:1 | 3:2 | 2:1 | 3:0 | 7:0 | 6:1 | 5:4 | 1:0 | 6:2 | 13(0,0)/4(1,0) | 55 | 34 | 39 | |
| URAWA Red Diamonds | 2:3 ext. | 2:0 | 2:3 | 0:1 ext. | 2:1 | 3:0 | 0:2 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 3:1 | 4:0 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 2:0 | 1:0 | 3:0 | 2:0 | 11(0,0)/6(2,0) | 32 | 15 | 33 | |
| YOKOHAMA Marinos | 1:2 ext. | 3:2 ext. | 3:2 | 3:4 ext. | 2:3 ext. | 2:0 | 0:1 | 2:1 | 2:0 | 1:2 | 4:2 | 2:3 | 3:2 | 3:0 | 4:1 | 2:0 | 3:2 | 11(1,0)/6(3,0) | 40 | 13 | 32 | |
| SHIMIZU S-Pulse | 1:2 | 0:1 | 1:0 ext. | 4:3 ext. | 2:0 | 4:2 | 2:1 | 2:2 ext. (7:8) | 2:1 ext. | 3:2 | 3:0 | 1:2 | 0:3 | 6:0 | 4:1 | 0:0 ext. (4:2) | 4:1 | 12(3,1)/5(0,1) | 39 | 18 | 31 | |
| NAGOYA Grampus eight | 0:1 | 2:4 | 1:2 | 3:2 ext. | 0:2 | 3:2 | 4:2 | 1:2 ext. | 2:3 | 3:2 | 2:0 | 1:1 ext. (5:3) | 3:1 | 2:0 | 3:2 | 1:0 | 3:0 | 11(1,1)/6(1,0) | 34 | 8 | 30 | |
| YOKOHAMA Flügels | 3:1 | 0:4 | 0:3 | 0:2 | 2:4 | 2:3 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 4:1 | 2:3 | 1:3 | 7:0 | 4:3 | 2:1 | 1:1 ext. (4:1) | 3:0 | 3:0 | 9(0,1)/8(0,0) | 37 | 5 | 25 | |
| KASHIWA Reysol | 0:3 | 0:4 | 2:0 | 1:0 | 1:2 | 2:4 | 2:1 | 0:0 ext. (9:8) | 2:3 | 2:2 ext. (3:5) | 1:3 | 3:1 | 2:0 | 1:2 ext. | 2:0 | 2:1 | 1:0 | 9(0,1)/8(1,1) | 25 | -2 | 25 | |
| Sanfrecce HIROSHIMA | 2:0 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 1:2 | 2:2 ext. (8:7) | 2:1 ext. | 1:2 | 0:0 ext. (8:9) | 0:2 | 1:2 ext. | 0:3 | 1:0 | 2:3 | 4:0 | 2:0 | 1:0 | 0:0 ext. (5:6) | 8(1,1)/9(1,2) | 23 | 4 | 24 | |
| Consadole SAPPORO | 2:3 | 1:6 | 1:2 | 0:2 | 1:2 ext. | 3:2 | 1:4 | 3:2 | 2:0 | 2:0 | 2:2 ext. (3:4) | 3:1 | 3:0 | 0:1 | 0:1 | 2:1 | 3:1 | 9(0,0)/8(1,1) | 27 | -1 | 24 | |
| KYOTO Purple Sanga | 0:3 | 2:3 | 1:3 | 2:1 | 2:3 | 2:3 | 3:2 | 2:2 ext. (5:3) | 2:1 ext. | 0:2 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 2:0 | 1:0 | 1:3 | 2:0 | 2:1 ext. | 9(2,1)/8(0,0) | 27 | -3 | 23 | |
| Bellmare HIRATSUKA | 0:2 | 1:2 | 0:4 | 2:4 | 0:3 | 0:2 | 3:1 | 3:1 | 3:0 | 2:2 ext. (4:3) | 2:1 | 1:2 | 1:0 | 2:0 | 2:1 | 2:3 | 2:4 | 8(0,1)/9(0,0) | 26 | -6 | 22 | |
| Cerezo OSAKA | 0:2 | 0:3 | 2:1 | 3:2 | 2:1 | 1:1 ext. (3:5) | 0:7 | 1:3 | 0:1 | 1:3 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 0:2 | 2:0 | 2:1 | 1:2 | 2:0 | 7(0,0)/10(0,1) | 20 | -12 | 21 | |
| Vissel KOBE | 1:4 | 0:7 | 1:2 | 2:3 | 3:0 | 1:3 | 3:4 | 0:2 | 3:2 | 0:3 | 0:2 | 0:1 | 2:0 | 2:1 | 0:1 ext. | 2:1 | 5:5 ext. (5:3) | 6(0,1)/11(1,0) | 25 | -16 | 16 | |
| Avispa FUKUOKA | 0:3 | 1:6 | 0:2 | 0:3 | 0:6 | 0:2 | 1:2 | 2:1 ext. | 0:4 | 1:0 | 0:1 | 0:2 | 0:2 | 1:2 | 1:0 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 5(1,0)/12(0,0) | 11 | -27 | 14 | |
| Gamba OSAKA | 1:3 | 4:5 | 0:1 | 1:4 | 1:4 | 2:3 | 1:1 ext. (1:4) | 0:2 | 0:2 | 1:0 | 3:1 | 1:2 | 1:2 | 1:0 ext. | 0:1 | 2:1 | 1:0 ext. | 5(2,0)/12(0,1) | 20 | -12 | 13 | |
| Verdy KAWASAKI | 1:2 ext. | 0:1 | 0:3 | 0:2 | 0:0 ext. (2:4) | 0:1 | 0:3 | 1:2 | 0:1 | 1:2 | 0:2 | 3:2 | 2:1 | 1:2 | 1:2 | 1:2 | 2:0 | 3(0,0)/14(1,1) | 13 | -15 | 9 | |
| JEF united ICHIHARA | 1:3 | 2:6 | 0:2 | 2:3 | 1:4 | 0:3 | 0:3 | 0:1 | 0:0 ext. (6:5) | 1:3 | 1:2 ext. | 4:2 | 0:2 | 5:5 ext. (3:5) | 1:2 | 0:1 ext. | 0:2 | 2(0,1)/15(2,1) | 18 | -26 | 4 |
The x-Teams progress to next round.
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-Pulse | 0:2 | Júbilo | 15/7/1998 | Shimizu |
| JEF united | 3:2 | Antlers | 15/7/1998 | Ichihara |
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Júbilo | 4:0 | JEF united | 19/7/1998 | National stadium, Tokyo |
The first match day is 16th May, and the last match day is 6th June 1998.
| Home team | JUB | RED | VER | SAN | BRU | Win/Draw/Loss | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- Júbilo IWATA | 1:2 | 2:1 | 3:0 | 6:2 | 3/0/1 | 12 | 7 | 9 | |
| URAWA Red Diamonds | 2:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 6:0 | 2/2/0 | 10 | 7 | 8 | |
| Verdy KAWASAKI | 1:2 | 1:1 | 3:1 | 1:0 | 2/1/1 | 6 | 2 | 7 | |
| Sanfrecce HIROSHIMA | 0:3 | 1:1 | 1:3 | 1:0 | 1/1/2 | 3 | -4 | 4 | |
| Brummel SENDAI | 2:6 | 0:6 | 0:1 | 0:1 | 0/0/4 | 2 | -12 | 0 |
| Home team | ANT | REY | AVI | MAR | CER | Win/Draw/Loss | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- KASHIMA Antlers | 1:1 | 3:0 | 2:1 | 5:2 | 3/1/0 | 11 | 7 | 10 | |
| KASHIWA Reysol | 1:1 | 3:2 | 5:2 | 3:2 | 3/1/0 | 12 | 5 | 10 | |
| Avispa FUKUOKA | 0:3 | 2:3 | 4:2 | 1:1 | 1/1/2 | 7 | -2 | 4 | |
| YOKOHAMA Marinos | 1:2 | 2:5 | 2:4 | 2:0 | 1/0/3 | 7 | -4 | 3 | |
| Cerezo OSAKA | 2:5 | 2:3 | 1:1 | 0:2 | 0/1/3 | 5 | -6 | 1 |
| Home team | SSP | Fro | GAM | FLU | CON | Win/Draw/Loss | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- SHIMIZU S-Pulse | 1:0 | 2:0 | 3:2 | 2:0 | 4/0/0 | 8 | 6 | 12 | |
| KAWASAKI Frontale | 0:1 | 2:0 | 0:1 | 2:0 | 2/0/2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| Gamba OSAKA | 0:2 | 0:2 | 2:0 | 5:2 | 2/0/2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | |
| YOKOHAMA Flügels | 2:3 | 1:0 | 0:2 | 2:3 | 1/0/3 | 5 | -3 | 3 | |
| Consadole SAPPORO | 0:2 | 0:2 | 2:5 | 3:2 | 1/0/3 | 5 | -6 | 3 |
| Home team | JEF | GRA | BEL | VIS | KPS | Win/Draw/Loss | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- JEF united ICHIHARA | 4:1 | 3:2 | 4:1 | 3:3 | 3/1/0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | |
| NAGOYA Grampus eight | 1:4 | 3:1 | 1:1 | 2:1 | 2/1/1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
| Bellmare HIRATSUKA | 2:3 | 1:3 | 2:0 | 1:1 | 1/1/2 | 6 | -1 | 4 | |
| Vissel KOBE | 1:4 | 1:1 | 0:2 | 3:1 | 1/1/2 | 5 | -3 | 4 | |
| KYOTO Purple Sanga | 3:3 | 1:2 | 1:1 | 1:3 | 0/2/2 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
All eighteen J.League clubs and two associate clubs are qualified for the competition.
In Preliminary Rounds, all teams play each other one time.
Teams are allotted three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.
The ranking is determined as follows: 1) total of all points, 2) goal difference, 3) total of goals.
The top one teams in each group progress to Semi-finals.
Italics are associate clubs of J.League.
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Júbilo | 1:2 | Antlers | 14/3/1998 | National stadium, Tokyo |
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-East | 1:3 | J-West | 16/8/1998 | Int. Yokohama |
J-East is a selection of eastern J.League, including Consadole, Antlers, JEF united, Reysol ,Reds ,Verdy, Marinos, Flügels and Bellmare.
J-West is a selection of western J.League, including S-Pulse, Júbilo, Grampus, Purple Sanga, Gamba, Cerezo, Vissel, Sanfrecce and Avispa.
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Dreams | 3:1 | World Dreams | 10/10/1998 | National stadium, Tokyo |
Japan Dreams is J.League Japanese selection.
World Dreams is J.League non-Japanese selection.
A guest player is Jose Luis Felix CHILAVERT (from Paraguay).
These z'-Teams and a x'-Team play the play-off matches.
| Team | 1997 | 1998 | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| KASHIMA Antlers | 16 | 36 | 52 |
| Júbilo IWATA | 17 | 34 | 51 |
| SHIMIZU S-Pulse | 13 | 32 | 45 |
| YOKOHAMA Marinos | 15 | 30 | 45 |
| NAGOYA Grampus eight | 9 | 28 | 37 |
| z- YOKOHAMA Flügels | 12 | 24 | 36 |
| URAWA Red Diamonds | 8 | 26 | 34 |
| KASHIWA Reysol | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| Cerezo OSAKA | 7 | 20 | 27 |
| Bellmare HIRATSUKA | 10 | 16 | 26 |
| Sanfrecce HIROSHIMA | 6 | 18 | 24 |
| Gamba OSAKA | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Verdy KAWASAKI | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| KYOTO Purple Sanga | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| z'- JEF united ICHIHARA | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| z'- Consadole SAPPORO | - | 10 | 10 |
| z'- Vissel KOBE | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| z'- Avispa FUKUOKA | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Team | Rank | Pts. |
|---|---|---|
| x'- KAWASAKI Frontale | *2nd | 68 |
| Brummel SENDAI | *7th | 43 |
J.League shall implement a two-division system in next season.
The top thirteen teams(*) of the league shall be eligible to play in J1 (division-1) 1999.
The rest of teams and associate clubs shall play in play-off matches, and three winning teams of the play-off matches also shall be eligible to play in J1 (division-1) 1999.
*) The ranking is determined by adding the ranking points for two seasons (1997 and 1998).
Associates in the top two teams of Japan Football League, only Frontale, also shall be eligible to play in play-off matches.
Brummel is not qualified for the play-off.
In the play-off, the bottom one team of J.League and an associate team shall play in 1st Round, only one match at J.League team's home.
The winner of 1st Round and the rest of the teams shall play in 2nd Rounds (each at home and away).
The winner of each 2nd Rounds shall be eligible to play in J1. The losers shall play in the play-off to decide third entry (each at home and away), and the winner also shall be eligible to play in J1.
Consadole and Frontale shall play in J2 (division-2) 1999.
In 1997 and 1998, J.League teams are allotted ranking points (see below table) according to the the rankings, and associate clubs are allotted no points.
| Ranking | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Championship team | 17 | 36 |
| 2nd place team | 16 | 34 |
| 3rd place team | 15 | 32 |
| 4th place team | 14 | 30 |
| 5th place team | 13 | 28 |
| 6th place team | 12 | 26 |
| 7th place team | 11 | 24 |
| 8th place team | 10 | 22 |
| 9th place team | 9 | 20 |
| 10th place team | 8 | 18 |
| 11th place team | 7 | 16 |
| 12th place team | 6 | 14 |
| 13th place team | 5 | 12 |
| 14th place team | 4 | 10 |
| 15th place team | 3 | 8 |
| 16th place team | 2 | 6 |
| 17th place team | 1 | 4 |
| 18th place team | - | 2 |
Flügels withdraws from the league at the end of this season, and is takenover by Marinos.
Italics are associate clubs of J.League.
Three y-Teams remain or are promote to J1.
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avispa | 3:2 ext. | Frontale | 19/11/1998 | Fukuoka |
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEF united | 2:0 2:1 | Avispa | 22/11/1998 26/11/1998 | Fukuoka Ichihara |
| Consadole | 1:2 0:2 | Vissel | 22/11/1998 26/11/1998 | Kobe Universiade Muroran |
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avispa | 1:0 3:0 | Consadole | 2/12/1998 5/12/1998 | Fukuoka Muroran |
These z-Teams participate in the first (New) JFL, and the rest participate in J2 1999.
The first match day is 5th April, and the last match day is 1st November 1998, interrupted by FIFA World Cup France 1998 from 18th May to 17th July.
| Home team | TOK | FRO | MON | VEN | HON | OIT | BRU | SAG | OTS | DEN | ALB | ARD | SS | HOL | KOK | JAT | Win(V/s.o)/Loss(V/s.o) | Goals | Dif. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y- Tokyo Gas | 0:1 | 0:1 | 2:1 | 2:0 | 5:0 | 3:0 | 2:0 | 0:1 ext. | 0:1 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 3:0 | 1:0 ext. | 3:0 | 5:0 | 24(3,0)/6(1,0) | 67 | 50 | 69 | |
| x'- KAWASAKI Frontale | 0:2 | 2:0 | 1:0 ext. | 0:1 ext. | 1:2 | 2:0 | 7:0 | 1:0 | 6:0 | 2:0 | 3:2 | 1:2 | 3:0 | 1:0 | 3:1 | 23(1,0)/7(2,0) | 72 | 48 | 68 | |
| y- Montedio YAMAGATA | 1:3 | 1:0 | 3:2 | 3:2 | 3:1 | 1:1 ext. (4:5) | 2:1 ext. | 1:0 | 4:2 | 1:0 | 3:1 | 6:1 | 3:2 | 3:2 | 5:0 | 22(2,0)/8(2,1) | 69 | 31 | 64 | |
| y- Ventforet KOFU | 2:1 | 2:3 | 3:1 | 1:0 | 1:3 | 6:2 | 2:1 ext. | 4:1 | 1:0 | 4:1 | 3:2 ext. | 5:0 | 3:2 ext. | 2:0 | 2:2 ext. (4:3) | 22(5,1)/8(1,0) | 74 | 34 | 59 | |
| Honda Motor | 0:2 | 1:0 ext. | 1:3 | 1:2 ext. | 2:1 | 1:3 | 1:0 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 3:4 ext. | 2:0 | 5:1 | 2:1 | 19(3,0)/11(2,0) | 57 | 12 | 54 | |
| y- OITA football club | 3:2 | 0:1 | 2:3 ext. | 0:1 ext. | 1:2 | 3:1 | 2:0 | 0:4 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 3:1 | 1:3 | 2:2 ext. (5:3) | 2:1 | 5:1 | 16(1,1)/14(3,1) | 51 | 0 | 45 | |
| y- Brummel SENDAI | 0:3 | 2:3 | 2:1 ext. | 0:1 | 0:1 | 1:0 ext. | 5:1 | 3:2 ext. | 2:1 ext. | 0:2 | 2:2 ext. (5:4) | 2:1 ext. | 3:0 | 2:1 | 6:1 | 18(5,3)/12(0,0) | 55 | 2 | 43 | |
| y- Sagan TOSU | 0:3 | 2:5 | 1:0 ext. | 1:0 | 1:2 | 1:0 | 5:0 | 2:3 ext. | 1:2 | 1:0 | 2:1 ext. | 2:1 ext. | 2:1 | 1:2 ext. | 2:1 | 14(3,0)/16(5,0) | 40 | -15 | 39 | |
| Otsuka F.C. Vortis TOKUSHIMA | 1:2 ext. | 1:3 | 0:1 | 1:2 | 4:0 | 2:2 ext. (4:2) | 1:0 | 3:1 | 1:1 ext. (4:5) | 1:2 | 0:3 | 3:0 | 1:0 | 5:3 | 3:1 | 14(2,1)/16(2,1) | 58 | 10 | 38 | |
| Denso | 1:5 | 1:3 | 3:2 | 1:2 | 0:1 | 2:3 | 2:4 | 0:1 | 1:3 | 3:0 | 3:2 ext. | 3:0 | 3:4 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 14(2,1)/16(1,0) | 48 | -11 | 38 | |
| y- Albirex NIIGATA | 1:2 ext. | 0:2 | 2:0 | 3:1 | 5:1 | 0:1 ext. | 2:3 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 0:2 | 1:2 | 2:1 ext. | 2:1 ext. | 2:0 | 2:1 | 12(2,0)/18(2,0) | 39 | -8 | 34 | |
| y- OMIYA Ardija | 0:3 | 0:2 | 0:2 | 1:4 | 1:2 ext. | 3:0 | 1:2 | 0:2 | 4:1 | 3:4 ext. | 2:0 | 2:1 ext. | 3:0 | 1:0 ext. | 3:0 | 11(2,0)/19(6,1) | 51 | -5 | 31 | |
| SONY Sendai | 0:1 | 0:5 | 0:2 | 3:1 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 1:3 | 2:3 | 1:3 | 0:1 | 1:2 | 3:4 | 1:0 | 1:2 | 3:4 ext. | 8(1,0)/22(7,0) | 42 | -29 | 23 | |
| MITO Hollyhock | 0:1 | 1:5 | 0:3 | 1:6 | 0:3 | 1:3 | 2:1 | 0:1 | 0:7 | 1:2 | 2:1 | 3:1 | 2:1 ext. | 3:2 | 0:1 | 8(1,0)/22(3,1) | 37 | -32 | 23 | |
| Kokushikan University | 1:6 | 0:4 | 1:4 | 1:3 | 1:3 | 2:3 | 2:2 ext. (1:4) | 4:1 | 4:3 | 0:2 | 2:1 | 0:2 | 3:2 ext. | 1:4 | 3:2 | 8(3,0)/22(1,1) | 42 | -34 | 21 | |
| JATCO | 0:1 | 3:2 | 3:6 | 2:7 | 3:10 | 1:2 | 1:3 | 3:2 ext. | 2:1 | 3:1 | 1:2 | 3:2 ext. | 0:5 | 1:5 | 1:2 ext. | 7(3,0)/23(1,1) | 44 | -53 | 18 |
In Japan Football League, all teams play each other two times (each at home and away).
When regulation time of league match play fails to determine a winner, teams play a sudden-death (golden-goal) extra time. If the match is still undecided, the winning team is decided in a penalty shoot-out.
Teams are allotted three points for a win in regulation play, two points for a 'V-goal'(golden-goal) extra time win, one point for a shoot-out extra time win, and no points for a loss.
The ranking is determined as follows: 1) total of all points, 2) goal difference, 3) total of goals.
NTT Kanto (in Urawa) is reorganized into OMIYA Ardija (in Omiya).
Nine professional teams, y-teams, including Frontale shall be eligible to play in J.League division-2 (J2) 1999.
Hollyhock was an unqualified team for the J.League.
Japan Football League is disorganised and is reorganized into (New) Japan Football League (Nippon Football League) 1999.
All teams, except professional teams, shall be eligible to play in (New) Japan Football League 1999.
The top one team of National Regional League Tournament, Yokogawa Electric, shall be eligible to play in (New) Japan Football League 1999.
As a special case, YOKOHAMA F.C. as an associate team shall be eligible to play in (New) Japan Football League 1998.
YOKOHAMA F.C. is organized by Flügels' supporters who are forsaken by the team. The Football Association of Japan, J.League and Japan Football League permit the club to play in the league.
| Team | Score | Team | Date | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFL East | 2:2 | JFL West | 6/9/1998 | Nishigaoka stadium, Tokyo |
JFL East is a selection of eastern JFL, including Montedio, Brummel, SONY Sendai, Hollyhock, Ardija, Tokyo Gas, Kokushikan Univ. and Albirex.
JFL West is a selection of western JFL, including Frontale, Ventforet, Honda, Jatco, Denso, Otsuka, Sagan and Oita.
*Background of this page is recycled paper.
Last update: 10/12/2004, except minor update
written by RedSwift