J1 League scraps draws, brings in penalty shoot-outs and new points system | OneFootball

Japan’s top flight has opened its 100th season by abolishing the draw, replacing stalemates with mandatory penalty shoot-outs and a revised allocation of points.

According to Superdeporte, a win in normal time remains worth three points. If teams are level after 90 minutes the game goes to penalties, the shoot-out winners take two points and the losers one, creating four possible outcomes, three, two, one or zero points.

The rule received an immediate test on the opening weekend when Kyoto Sanga FC drew 1-1 with Vissel Kobe. Kobe then prevailed in the shoot-out, 1-4, to collect two points, with Kyoto Sanga taking one.

There were further spot-kick deciders. FC Tokyo beat Kashima Antlers (5-4), Gamba Osaka edged Cerezo Osaka (5-4) and Fagiano Okayama defeated Avispa Fukuoka (5-6).

This approach is not unprecedented. In 1988 the Argentine Football Association used a similar method to settle draws, with a near-identical split of points.

The change has been introduced for a transition season scheduled from February to June 2026, designed to realign the competition calendar.

From August 2026 the league plans to adopt the European schedule, running from August to May or June, and to align transfer windows. Officials remain cautious on the future of mandatory shoot-outs, the rule is tied to this exceptional period, though its continuation has not been ruled out.

Source: Superdeporte