Japan has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since their debut in 1998, making them one of the most successful Asian teams in the tournament.
Syria's national football team has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, but they have shown improvement in recent years and have made it to the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers.
Japan has a population of over 126 million people, making it one of the most populous countries in Asia.
Syria has been facing a civil war since 2011, leading to challenges for their national football team in terms of training and playing matches.
Japan won the AFC Asian Cup in 1992, making them one of the most successful teams in the history of the tournament.
Syria made history by reaching the fifth round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 2017, narrowly missing out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup.