Soccer: Yokohama FC win promotion to J1 as Okayama lose

Yokohama FC secured promotion to the J-League first division on Sunday thanks to a loss by J2 rivals Fagiano Okayama.

Okayama's 2-1 home defeat to Blaublitz Akita left them on 72 points with one game left to play, giving them no chance of catching second-placed Yokohama FC, who are on 77 points.

The J2's top two teams earn automatic promotion to J1. J2 leaders Albirex Niigata have already clinched a place in next season's top flight following a five-year absence.

Yokohama FC will return to the top tier after one J2 season. They finished last in the 2021 pandemic-affected 20-team J1 season when the bottom four teams were relegated.

© Kyodo News