The 2022 Japanese Regional Football Champions League (全国地域サッカーチャンピオンズリーグ2022) was the 46th edition of the referred annually contested cup for the best-placed teams of each of their respective Regional Leagues, and of the 2022 Shakaijin Cup. Criacao Shinjuku was the title holder, as winners of the 2021 edition of the tournament.[1] Promoted to the JFL, the club couldn't defend their title. Briobecca Urayasu won the championship at the final round, being promoted to the Japan Football League years after relegated from it on 2017. Finishing as runners-up, Okinawa SV was also promoted to Japan's 4th division for the first time in their history.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Dates | 11–27 November 2022 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Briobecca Urayasu (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Okinawa SV |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 24 |
| Goals scored | 63 (2.63 per match) |
| Attendance | 8,452 (352 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Yuta Yamada (5 goals) |
Format
As usual, 12 teams participated in the transitional tournament for regional league teams who want to join the JFL. The 2019 format was restored, with three Shakaijin Cup teams that were not yet qualified to the Champions League via the Regional Leagues (being placed below the champions of their league), alongside the nine champions of the 2022 Japanese Regional Leagues.
It featured two stages: The first stage had the 12 teams split into 3 groups with 4 teams in each, with each group winners and the overall best runners-up being qualified to the second stage. This second, and final stage, had the 4 teams playing (again) in a round-robin format, with the winners and runners-up of the competition staying a foot apart from qualifying to the 2023 Japan Football League, pending the league's approval. [2][3] Only teams that want to join the JFL can be promoted. Unlike the previous year, where 11 of the 12 teams submitted applications to the JFL (as Mitsubishi Mizushima didn't expressed a desire to join the league), all the participating teams on this edition submitted documents indicating their intention to join the JFL. The order of priority to join the JFL goes from the first-placed team to the last-placed team in the competition, so, the two best teams amongst those whom the JFL have approved membership can be promoted. A meeting between the JFL Board of Directors, scheduled to be held on 6 December 2022, determines whether the winners and runners-up of the competition will have its membership accepted. Its results will be published on the same day at 13:00 (JST).[4]
Depending on the clubs that ended up as the top 3 teams in the Shakaijin Cup, a specific rank that would take the J.League 100 Year Plan club status clubs and its performances in the 2022 Regional Leagues into account would be applied to determine the final teams on this competition.[5][6] However, the rank was not necessary, as out of the four semi-finalists, only BTOP Thank Kuriyama was already in the competition, as the Hokkaido League champions. The other three semi-finalists had not yet qualified to the Champions League via their Regional Leagues, then, they filled the remaining three slots left, pre-allocated to the top-placed teams of the Shakaijin Cup.
Participating teams
Returning teams from the previous season were noted in bold. Teams relegated from the previous JFL season were noted in italics.
| Region | Slots | Team | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 1 | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | 1st (League) |
| Tohoku | 1 | Cobaltore Onagawa | 1st (League) |
| Kantō | 2 | Tochigi City Briobecca Urayasu | 1st (League) 1st (Cup) |
| Hokushin'etsu | 1 | Artista Asama | 1st (League) |
| Tōkai | 1 | FC Kariya | 1st (League) |
| Kansai | 1 | Arterivo Wakayama | 1st (League) |
| Chugoku | 1 | Fukuyama City | 1st (League) |
| Shikoku | 1 | FC Tokushima | 1st (League) |
| Kyushu | 3 | Okinawa SV Nobeoka Agata Veroskronos Tsuno | 1st (League) 3rd (Cup) 4th (Cup) |
First round
Each group had its matches played in a round-robin format. Each team played three matches in just three days, from 11 to 13 November, with one being played at each day. [7] The draw was conducted on 22 October 2022, streamed live by Kansai Soccer League's official YouTube channel. [8]
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Kariya | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 7 | Advance to the final round |
| 2 | Tochigi City | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | |
| 3 | Nobeoka Agata | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 0 |
| 11 November 2022 | Tochigi City | 1–1 | FC Kariya | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 10:45 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 350 Referee: Masakazu Kato |
| 11 November 2022 | Nobeoka Agata | 2–1 | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 163 Referee: Masamitsu Hashimoto |
| 12 November 2022 | Tochigi City | 2–0 | Nobeoka Agata | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 10:45 | Report (JFA) | Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 284 Referee: Ken Tsukahara |
| 12 November 2022 | FC Kariya | 2–1 | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 290 Referee: Kazuki Nakamura |
| 13 November 2022 | Tochigi City | 2–1 | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 10:45 | Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 328 Referee: Ken Tsukahara |
| 13 November 2022 | FC Kariya | 4–2 | Nobeoka Agata | Maebashi, Gunma |
| 13:30 | Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium Attendance: 187 Referee: Masakazu Kato |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okinawa SV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 7 | Advance to the final round |
| 2 | Veroskronos Tsuno | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 | |
| 3 | Artista Asama | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 2 | |
| 4 | Cobaltore Onagawa | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
| 11 November 2022 | Artista Asama | 0–6 | Okinawa SV | Niigata, Niigata |
| 10:45 | Report (JFA) | Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 223 Referee: Yasuyuki Matsumoto |
| 11 November 2022 | Veroskronos Tsuno | 2–1 | Cobaltore Onagawa | Niigata, Niigata |
| 13:30 | Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 215 Referee: Satoshi Oba |
| 12 November 2022 | Artista Asama | 2–2 | Veroskronos Tsuno | Niigata, Niigata |
| 10:45 |
| Report (JFA) | Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 220 Referee: Ryo Munakata |
| 12 November 2022 | Okinawa SV | 0–0 | Cobaltore Onagawa | Niigata, Niigata |
| 13:30 | Report (JFA) | Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 262 Referee: Sho Yanagida |
| 13 November 2022 | Artista Asama | 1–1 | Cobaltore Onagawa | Niigata, Niigata |
| 10:45 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 189 Referee: Yasuyuki Matsumoto |
| 13 November 2022 | Okinawa SV | 3–0 | Veroskronos Tsuno | Niigata, Niigata |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFA) | Stadium: Niigata Athletic Stadium Attendance: 170 Referee: Akira Munakata |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briobecca Urayasu | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 9 | Advance to the final round |
| 2 | Fukuyama City | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Arterivo Wakayama | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | FC Tokushima | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 0 |
| 11 November 2022 | Arterivo Wakayama | 0–2 | Fukuyama City | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 10:45 | Report (JFA) | Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 200 Referee: Yasuhiro Udagawa |
| 11 November 2022 | Briobecca Urayasu | 2–1 | FC Tokushima | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 350 Referee: Toshiro Hori |
| 12 November 2022 | Arterivo Wakayama | 1–2 | Briobecca Urayasu | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 10:45 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 250 Referee: Tomomasa Toshiki |
| 12 November 2022 | Fukuyama City | 2–1 | FC Tokushima | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 700 Referee: Yasuhiro Udagawa |
| 13 November 2022 | Arterivo Wakayama | 2–1 | FC Tokushima | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 10:45 |
| Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 400 Referee: Toshiro Hori |
| 13 November 2022 | Fukuyama City | 0–1 | Briobecca Urayasu | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 13:30 | Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium Attendance: 200 Referee: Tomomasa Toshiki |
Ranking of second-placed teams
The three winners of each group of the first round qualifies for the final round, alongside the best-placed team among the runners-up of each group.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tochigi City | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 7 | Qualification for the final round |
| 2 | Fukuyama City | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Veroskronos Tsuno | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 |
Final round
The group had matches played in a round-robin format. Slightly different from the previous round, each of the four teams qualified to this stage plays three matches in a five-days span, from 23 to 27 November. The top 2 teams qualified to the 2023 Japan Football League, as before mentioned.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briobecca Urayasu | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 | Promoted to the JFL |
| 2 | Okinawa SV | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 5 | |
| 3 | Tochigi City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | FC Kariya | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 |
| 23 November 2022 | Okinawa SV | 0–0 | Briobecca Urayasu | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 10:45 | Report (JFL) | Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 449 Referee: Yoshihito Hori |
| 23 November 2022 | Tochigi City | 2–0 | FC Kariya | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFL) | Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 398 Referee: Takamasa Funahashi |
| 25 November 2022 | Okinawa SV | 0–0 | Tochigi City | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 10:45 | Report (JFL) | Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 432 Referee: Kiminori Yasukawa |
| 25 November 2022 | Briobecca Urayasu | 1–0 | FC Kariya | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFL) | Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 302 Referee: Hiroki Tanabe |
| 27 November 2022 | Okinawa SV | 4–0 | FC Kariya | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 10:45 | Report (JFL) | Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 773 Referee: Tomomasa Toshiki |
| 27 November 2022 | Briobecca Urayasu | 3–1 | Tochigi City | Kumagaya, Saitama |
| 13:30 |
| Report (JFL) |
| Stadium: Kumagaya Athletic Stadium Attendance: 1,117 Referee: Masashi Harada |
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yuto Yamada | Okinawa SV | 5 |
| 2 | Ryuichi Ichiki | Okinawa SV | 4 |
| Rai Ijuin | Nobeoka Agata | ||
| 4 |  Joe Caletti | Tochigi City | 3 |
| 5 | Shuga Arai | Okinawa SV | 2 |
| Shuto Kammera | BTOP Thank Kuriyama | ||
| Kanta Kajiyama | Veroskronos Tsuno | ||
| Daisuke Kato | Briobecca Urayasu | ||
| Tsubasa Misao | FC Tokushima | ||
| Masato Nomura | FC Kariya | ||
| Naoto Suzuki | FC Kariya | ||
| Yo Uematsu | Briobecca Urayasu |