Fukushima United FC

Fukushima United
福島ユナイテッド
Full nameFukushima United Football Club
FoundedApril 2002 (April 2002) as Fukushima Dream Junkers
StadiumToho Stadium
(Fukushima, Fukushima)
Capacity6,464
ChairmanHayato Suzuki
ManagerShuhei Terada
LeagueJ3 League
2025J3 League, 10th of 20
Websitefufc.jp

Fukushima United (福島ユナイテッド, Fukushima Yunaiteddo Efushī) is a Japanese football club from Fukushima, the capital of Fukushima Prefecture. They currently play in the J3 League, Japan's third tier of professional football.

The club gained national attention for its resilience following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, as it played an important role in supporting local recovery efforts through football-related community initiatives.

History

Fukushima United is a professional football club based in Fukushima. The club was formed in 2002 through the merger of local teams, originally competing under the name Fukushima Dream Club. It was created with the aim of developing a unified representative football team for Fukushima Prefecture.

In its early years, Fukushima United competed in regional leagues and worked toward establishing a stronger organisational structure and youth development system. The club steadily progressed through the Japanese football pyramid and became a prominent team in the Tōhoku region.

From the 2008 season, the club has adopted the new name as Fukushima United Football Club. In 2013, Fukushima United joined the newly formed J3 League as one of its founding members, marking its entry into the professional tiers of the J.League.

On 28 October 2022, Fukushima United acquired the J2 license, meaning that from the 2022 season, they can now be promoted to the J2 League if the club finishes the league season either on 1st or 2nd place.

Team image

Fukushima United supporters

Supporters

The supporters of Fukushima United are mainly drawn from across Fukushima Prefecture, with a strong presence in the city of Fukushima. Since the club’s establishment, its fanbase has grown steadily, with local residents, students, and community groups regularly attending home matches.

Supporters typically gather in the goal-end sections at Toho Stadium, where they organize chants, wave flags, and display banners to encourage the team during matches. Drums and coordinated cheering are commonly used to create a lively matchday atmosphere.

The club’s supporters have also played an important role in promoting football within the region, particularly after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. During the recovery period, fans and the club worked closely with the local community through charity events, football clinics, and support initiatives.

As a result, the fan culture surrounding Fukushima United emphasizes regional pride, resilience, and community unity, reflecting the club’s strong connection with the people of Fukushima Prefecture.

Rivalries

Fukushima derby

The Fukushima derby refers to football matches between Fukushima United and Iwaki FC, two professional clubs based in Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima United is based in the prefectural capital, Fukushima, while Iwaki FC is based in Iwaki. The fixture represents a regional rivalry between the northern and southern football centres of the prefecture.

Both clubs compete in the J3 League, and their encounters are seen as important matches for local pride and supporter identity. The rivalry has gained attention in recent years as both clubs have developed professionally, contributing to the growth of football culture in Fukushima.

Stadium

Toho Stadium

Fukushima United primarily plays its home matches at Toho Stadium, located in the city of Fukushima. The stadium is part of the larger Azuma Sports Park complex, which contains several sports facilities including baseball fields and training grounds.

Opened in 1997, Toho Stadium has a seating capacity of around 6,464 spectators and is a multi-purpose venue mainly used for football and athletics events. The stadium features a large main stand with covered seating as well as additional stands surrounding the running track. The J. League restricts the capacity to 6,464, as they do not regard grass seats included in the stadium capacity.

Some home games are and have also been played at the Aizu Athletic Park Stadium, in Aizuwakamatsu City. Usually once per season. With a seating capacity of 7,300.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Kit evolution

Home kit - 1st
2008 - 2009
2010
2011 - 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 -
Away kit - 2nd
2008 - 2009
2010
2011 - 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 -
Special - 3rd
2017
Peach Uni
2018
Peach Uni
2019
Peach Uni
2020
Peach Uni
2020
U.S. Uni
2021
10th Anniversary
2021
Peach Uni
2021
U.S. Uni
2022
Peach Uni
2022
U.S. Uni
2023 3rd Fukushima SDGs Uni
2024 3rd
Fukushima SDGs Uni

Players

Current squad

As of 14 April 2026[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  JPN Tomoki Ueda
5 DF  JPN Hayate Toma
6 MF  JPN Uheiji Uehata
7 MF  JPN Kosei Ashibe (on loan from Machida Zelvia)
8 MF  JPN Yuki Okada
9 FW  JPN Kazumasa Shimizu
10 MF  JPN Takeaki Harigaya
11 FW  JPN Kazuyoshi Miura (on loan from Yokohama FC)
14 MF  JPN Tsubasa Nakamura
17 DF  JPN Takumi Fujitani
18 FW  JPN Ryoma Ishii
19 MF  JPN Jiro Fujita
20 MF  JPN Saiki Izumi
21 DF  KOR Choi Do-hyun
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK  JPN Kenshin Yoshimaru
23 DF  JPN Tatsuya Anzai
26 MF  JPN Keita Tanaka
27 DF  JPN Satoru Nozue
28 DF  JPN Naoki Suzu
29 DF  JPN Kaito Tsuchiya (on loan from Kawasaki Frontale)
30 MF  JPN Kaisei Kano
31 GK  JPN Shun Anzai
32 MF  JPN Takatora Einaga (on loan from Kawasaki Frontale)
40 FW  JPN Hiroki Higuchi
41 GK  JPN Yudai Tanaka
77 DF  JPN Toraji Chiba (on loan from Montedio Yamagata)
78 GK  KOR Jung Sung-ryong

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  JPN Shin Nakagawa (at FC Tiamo Hirakata)

Management and staff

Coaching staff for the 2025 season [2]

Position Name
Manager[3] Japan Shuhei Terada
Head coach Japan Toshihiko Uchiyama
Coach Japan Noriaki Jishin
Goalkeeper coach Japan Takashi Aizawa
Analysis & Assistant coach Japan Kentaro Nagai
Assistant coach Japan Katsumi Yusa
S&C coach Japan Yu Suzuki
Competent Japan Kenta Kuyama
Deputy officer Japan Yu Kano
Athletic Trainer Japan Shun Shimizu
Japan Hiroki Funakubo

Honours

Fukushima United FC Honours
Honour No. Years
Tohoku Soccer League Division 2 South 1 2008
Fukushima Prefectural Football Championship
(Emperor's Cup Fukushima Prefectural Qualifiers) 		13 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Tohoku Soccer League Division 1 2 2011, 2012
East Japan Adult Football Tournament: 1 2012

Managerial history

Manager Nationality Tenure
Start Finish
Satoshi Tezuka  Japan 1 January 2010 31 January 2012
Yū Tokisaki  Japan 1 February 2012 31 January 2014
Keisuke Kurihara  Japan 1 February 2014 31 January 2017
Kazuaki Tasaka  Japan 1 February 2017 31 January 2019
Takeo Matsuda  Japan 1 February 2019 31 January 2021
Yū Tokisaki  Japan 1 February 2021 31 January 2022
Toshihiro Hattori  Japan 1 February 2022 12 July 2023
Mitsumasa Yoda  Japan 13 July 2023 31 January 2024
Shuhei Terada  Japan 1 February 2024 Current

Season by season record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League Cup Emperor's
Cup		 Shakaijin
Cup
Season Division Tier Teams Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G
2011 Tohoku Soccer
League (Div.1)		 4 7 1st 12 11 0 1 53 6 47 33 Not eligible 2nd round 1st round
2012 7 1st 12 11 0 1 61 6 55 33 4th round Runner's up
2013 JFL 3 18 14th 34 8 10 16 35 42 -7 34 1,027 2nd round Not eligible
2014 J3 12 7th 33 9 9 15 30 38 -8 36 1,321 1st round
2015 13 7th 36 13 10 13 42 48 -6 49 1,289 1st round
2016 16 14th 30 7 9 14 35 44 -9 30 1,678 2nd round
2017 17 10th 32 13 4 15 39 43 -4 43 1,485 Did not qualify
2018 17 12th 32 9 13 10 36 43 -7 40 1,576
2019 18 11th 34 13 4 17 45 53 -8 43 1,645
2020 † 18 13th 34 11 6 17 46 55 -9 39 582
2021 † 15 5th 28 13 6 9 41 32 9 45 876
2022 18 11th 34 11 9 14 37 45 -8 42 1,465 2nd round
2023 20 15th 38 12 11 15 37 42 -5 47 1,205 2nd round
2024 20 5th 38 18 5 15 64 49 15 59 1,800 1st round 2nd round
2025 20 10th 38 16 8 14 60 67 -7 56 2,374 2nd round 2nd round
2026 10 TBD 18 N/A N/A
2026-27 20 TBD 38 TBD TBD
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
  • Attendance/G = Average home league attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendances reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J.League Data Site

References

  1. ^ "PLAYER". Fukushima United FC Official Team Site (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Coaching staff for the 2025 season". fufc.jp. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  3. ^ "トップチーム". fufc.jp (in Japanese). Fukushima United FC. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
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