, commonly known as , is a Japanese professional football club based in Machida, Tokyo. They currently play in the J1 League, following promotion as J2 League champions in 2023.
Throughout the club history, they have won 1 J2 League and 1 Emperor's Cup. In the club first season in AFC Champions League Elite, they went on to finished as runners-up.
History
Formation and election to the Prefectural League (1989–2002) The roots of the current iteration of Machida Zelvia originated from a training center for youth football players, known as the "FC Machida Training Center". In 1989, at the suggestion of the chairman of the city football association, Sadao Shigeta, FC Machida Top was founded.
From non-League to Japan Football League (2002–2011) In 2003, they became a multi-sport club under the name Athletic Club Machida, and in 2005 were promoted to the Kanto League, having won the Tokyo Prefectural League (First Division). They came first in the Kanto league (Second Division) the following year and were promoted to First Division, where they stayed until promotion to the Japan Football League as champions of the Regional Promotion Playoff Series in 2008.
In 2009, they adopted the current nickname "Zelvia", a portmanteau of the Latin words zelkova (Machida City's official tree) and salvia (Machida city's official flower) thus renaming themselves as Machida Zelvia.
The same year, the club declared its intent to be promoted to J. League's 2nd division, and its status of semi-affiliate was officially approved by the J. League. However, its home stadium capacity and light specifications did not meet the J. League's requirements, average attendance did not reach 3,000, and the team's final position of 6th place did not allow for Zelvia's promotion to the J. League.
In 2010, Machida appointed Naoki Soma, a former star player who played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, as its new head coach. The stadium's lighting was renewed, and the club added several J. League players to its roster. Machida also announced its partnership with Major League Soccer's D.C. United, which became the first historic partnership between a Japanese and American club. The reborn team beat Tokyo Verdy, its arch-rival from the J. League, in the 2010 Emperor's Cup, but was knocked out by Albirex Niigata in the third round. Soma left at the end of the season and was replaced by Serbian Ranko Popović, former coach of Oita Trinita.
Yo-yo years (2012–2022) The stadium's capacity and conditions were still short of fulfilling J. League criteria, so the club completed another renovation between the end of the 2010 and the start of the 2011 seasons. Machida finished the 2011 season in third place after beating Kamatamare Sanuki in the final match of that season, thereby granting them promotion to J. League (Second Division),McKirdy, Andrew, "Ardiles ready to face new challenge ", Japan Times, 6 March 2012, p. 18. but were relegated after a bottom-placed finish. They became one of the original J3 clubs after finishing in 4th place in the 2014 JFL season and returned to J2 as 2015 runners-up by beating Oita Trinita in the promotion/relegation play-off. In the first return to J2 in the 2016 season, Machida were able to finish in 7th position, only four points short of the play-offs spot.
In 2017, Machida fell off more than a half place down to 15th with fifty points, twelve points up of relegation zone. In the 2018 season, while Machida culminated a great campaign by finishing inside the promotion play-offs zone of 4th place, Machida were unable to participate in the phase because they did not have a J1 League-level license. The 2019 season also saw the club fell down far on the table as they finished in 18th position, three points up from relegation places occupied by Kagoshima United and FC Gifu. At the end of this season the club acquired a J1 license.
In 2020, Machida finished in 19th. While they were able to conclude their 2021 campaign by finishing in 5th position, no promotion play-offs were held in this season, mainly because no relegation in the previous season due to COVID-19 pandemic, so Machida remain in J2. In 2022 season, Machida once again fell far below their position of the previous campaign by finishing in the 15th position. After the conclusion of the 2022 season, manager Ranko Popović left the club.
Go Kuroda's era (2023–present)
First silverware of professional era and J1 League debut In February 2023, Machida appointed Go Kuroda as their manager ahead of the 2023 season. It was Kuroda first professional managerial career after he spend 28 years building Aomori Yamada High School into a national powerhouse. Machida emerged as one of the league's strongest and on 22 October 2023, after a seven-year run in J2 League, Machida eventually achieved promotion to the J1 League for the first time in the club history with manager Go Kuroda guiding Machida to the 2023 J2 League title with 87 points following their 3–0 away win against Roasso Kumamoto in matchweek 39 on 28 October after a 1–0 victory over Zweigen Kanazawa. The club also confirmed their status as champions of the second division on 28 October 2023 after Kumamoto defeated Shimizu S-Pulse 3–1. Machida established themselves near the top of the standings early in the season and maintained their position throughout the campaign. The team combined one of the league's most productive attacks with one of its strongest defensive records. Brazilian forward Erik was a key contributor, scoring 18 league goals and providing six assists.
AFC Champions League Elite debut and finalist Machida started off their debut 2024 J1 League season on 24 February 2024 against Gamba Osaka in a 1–1 draw with Junya Suzuki scoring their historic first top-tier league goal for the club. Machida went on to have a magnificent run in the first few matches leading at the top of the J1 League table with three wins, one draw and zero lost with 10 points. Machida then went on to finished in third place in their debut season where they also qualified for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite. On 16 September 2025, Machida played their first continental match in a 1–1 draw to Korean club FC Seoul and they secured their historic first win by a score of 2–0, away against the Chinese club, Shanghai Port. Machida went on to top the league phase as group leaders with 17 points in their debut season which sees them qualified to the knockout stage. Machida then faced off against Korean club Gangwon FC in the round of 16 tie. Hotaka Nakamura scored the only goal in the tie in the 2nd leg which saw Machida qualifying to the quarter-finals on a 1–0 aggregate. Machida then faced off against Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals. Tete Yengi then went on to scored the only goal thus seeing Machida qualified to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Machida faced off against Emirati club Shabab Al Ahli where Yūki Sōma then scored the only goal in the match to secured Machida in the final of the tournament. In the 2026 AFC Champions League Elite final, Machida faced off against defending champions, Al-Ahli. The match ended in extra time which then saw Machida lost the final.
Emperor's Cup winner On 22 November 2025, Machida took home Emperor's Cup for the first time in their history after defeating Vissel Kobe 3–1 at the Japan National Stadium which saw the club qualified to the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two. Machida was then drawn in Group G alongside Chinese club Shanghai Shenghua, Cambodian club Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng and Singaporean club Tampines Rovers.
Stadium
Machida currently play their home matches at Machida GION Stadium, also known as Nozuta Stadium. Until 2011, the stadium's capacity was 6,200, including grassy areas, and it has featured lighting for night games since 2009. The stadium underwent renovations between the 2010 and 2011 seasons and now offers all-seated accommodations.
Although the J2 League requires a minimum seating capacity of 10,000, the stadium initially did not meet this criterion. Nonetheless, an agreement with J-League officials allows for home games expecting large crowds to be held at alternative stadiums for such occasions. Meanwhile, GION Stadium was upgraded to fulfill the 10,000-seat minimum. Its current capacity stands at 15,489. In the 2024 season, the club's inaugural season in the top division of Japanese football, they hosted four matches at the new Japan National Stadium.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Sponsors Year Kit ManufacturerMain Sponsor 2004–2006 Dell'erbaNo main sponsor2007–2008 Hummel Pherrow's Sportswear2009In house productionNo main sponsor2010–2011 SVOLME Odakyu2012–2018 Eagle Kenso2019–2022 Abema2023–present Adidas CyberAgent
Kit evolution Home kit - 1st Away kit - 2nd
Special kit - 3rd
Players
First-team squad .
Out on loan
Management and staff Club officials for 2025 season.
PositionName Manager Go Kuroda Assistant manager Kenji Arima First-team coach Shin Yamanaka Hikaru Mita Daiki Ueda Goalkeeping coach Yukiya Hamano Fitness coach Shunsuke Otsuka Interpreter and first-team coach Leonardo Moreira Analytics coach and Head of analysts Yasuhiko Nishimura Analytical coach Yoshiro Akano Technical staff Sota Kinoshita Ryang Yoon-ho Interpreter Go Murakami Ken Takahashi Lee Seong-ang Chief trainer Yasuyuki Sasaki Trainer Yuta Hamada Shin Osawa Takashi Imai Physiotherapist Takuro Yoshitake Medical coordinator Akihisa Yamamoto Chief manager Naoya Watanabe Sub manager Ryota Kiyofuji Kit manager Hiroyuki Kawakita Yuto Suzuki Nutrition management advisor Jun Hamano Chief doctor Takahiro Fujisawa Keisuke Irako
Honours +TypeHonoursTitlesSeasonLeagueJ2 League12023Kantō Soccer League Division 112007, 2008Kantō Soccer League Division 21Japanese Regional Football Champions League12008CupEmperor's Cup12025 Bold is for those competition that are currently active or meant for professional leagues.
Records and statistics As of 23 March 2026. +Top 10 all-time appearancesRankPlayerYearsClub appearance1 Kota Fukatsu2009–2010, 2013–20233792 Yuki Nakashima2016–20262873 Masayuki Okuyama2017–20242734 Taiki Hirato2019–20222085 Koji Suzuki2012–20181876 Takafumi Suzuki2010–2012, 2014–20161847 Kota Morimura2015–20201828 Ri Han-jae2014–20201489 Toshiyasu Takahara2014–201814710 Kai Miki2021–2024144 +Top 10 all-time goalscorerRankPlayerClub appearanceTotal goals1 Koji Suzuki187692 Yoshinori Katsumata103543 Yuki Nakashima287514 Takafumi Suzuki184425 Taiki Hirato208406 Shōta Fujio126277 Erik69268 Shusuke Ota7920 Mitchell Duke11010 Yūki Sōma6619
Biggest wins: 11–0 vs T.F.S.C. (20 May 2007) Heaviest defeats: 1–7 vs Urawa Red Diamonds (11 November 2015) Youngest goal scorers: Shota Saito ~ 18 years 11 months 25 days old (On 9 June 2013 vs Honda FC) Oldest goal scorers: Yuki Nakashima ~ 40 years 3 months 19 days old (On 5 October 2024 vs Kawasaki Frontale) Youngest ever debutant: Ryu Joseph Hashimura ~ 16 years 6 months 17 days old (On 12 March 2017 vs Fagiano Okayama) Oldest ever player: Yuki Nakashima ~ 40 years 4 months 24 days old (On 9 November 2024 vs FC Tokyo)
Continental record CompetitionWin%AFC Champions League EliteAFC Champions League TwoTotal
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregateAFC Champions League EliteLeague stage FC Seoul1–1 1st out of 12 Johor Darul Ta'zim 0–0 Shanghai Port 2–0 Melbourne City1–2 Gangwon 3–1 Ulsan HD3–1 Shanghai Shenhua 2–0 Chengdu Rongcheng3–2 Round of 16 Gangwon1–00–01–0 Quarter-final Al-Ittihad Jeddah1–0 Semi-final Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai1–0 Final Al-Ahli Saudi0–1 AFC Champions League TwoGroup G PKR Svay Rieng2–0 Tampines Rovers Shanghai Shenhua
Award winners As of the end of the 2025 season.
J.League Best XI
J1 League
Yūki Sōma (2025)
J2 League
Erik (2023)
Managerial history