The Kirin Cup is an annual friendly association football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 as an international club competition. From 1992 onwards the format was changed to a round robin national team competition. The first nation to win the competition was Argentina. Japan are the tournament's most successful team with 11 titles, followed by Peru with 3 titles. As of 2011, the current cup holders are the Czech Republic, Japan and Peru, which shared the last title.
Since the start of the international competitions in 1992, the tournament has hosted a variety of teams from South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Out of the South American CONMEBOL members who have been invited (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru), Peru have been the most successful (3 titles) with Argentina in a close second (1 title). Out of the European invitees, there have been 6 different champions, the most successful being the Czech Republic with 2 titles, with Hungary, France, Belgium, Slovakia and Scotland winning one title each. Aside from Japan, the only other Asian country to have won the tournament are the United Arab Emirates (2005), who shared the title with Peru. No African teams have won the tournament, and no Oceanic (OFC) teams have ever been invited.
In addition to the annual Kirin Cup there are a few Kirin Challenge Cups, friendlies also sponsored by the Kirin Corporation, played throughout the year in Japan.
Read more about Kirin Cup: National Team Competition Winners, Club Competition Winners
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