The Japan Football Association announced Thursday it signed a partnership deal with the English Football Association in London to cooperate in different areas including coaching development, and women's and physically disabled soccer.
The deal, signed by JFA president Kuniya Daini and his English F.A. counterpart Greg Dyke at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, will also see the two governing bodies working in tandem on refereeing issues and arranging matches in various age categories among others.
JFA has corresponding agreements with 11 other soccer associations, including eight within Asia, and with European powerhouses Spain, France and Germany.