Japan 2002
Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup and delivered a campaign that united the nation. In a country where baseball had long reigned as the dominant sport, the Blue Samurai captivated millions. Junichi Inamoto scored crucial goals, Nakata Hidetoshi provided world-class vision, and the electric atmosphere in stadiums across the country became a defining image of the tournament. Japan beat Russia and Tunisia to top their group the first time an Asian co-host had advanced from the group stage. In the round of 16, Turkey proved too experienced, winning 1-0. But the tournament transformed Japanese football forever: a generation of children who watched those matches would go on to make Japan a consistent World Cup presence, and the J-League surged in popularity. The 2002 World Cup was Japan's coming-of-age moment.