Sanfrecce Hiroshima () is a Japanese professional football club based in Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. Sanfrecce is one of the most successful clubs in Japan. The club is the joint fourth in most J1 League titles with four, the joint first in most top-flight titles (which includes the defunct Japan Soccer League), with eight, and the club with the most participations in Emperor's Cup finals, with 15. The club is one of the only four clubs to be among the three best-placed teams of the FIFA Club World Cup, in a feat currently shared with Al-Sadd, Al-Ain and Kashima Antlers. Club name The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese word for three, San and the Italian word frecce, which means 'arrows'. This is based on the story of the feudal lord Mōri Motonari who told his three sons that while a single arrow might be easily snapped, three arrows held together would not be broken and urged them to work for the good of the clan and its retainers. Former names 1938–70: 1943–46: Football was suspended during the period, due to the Pacific War. 1971–80: 1981–83: 1984–85: 1986–92: Location The club's home town is Hiroshima and the side plays at Hiroshima Big Arch and Hiroshima Prefectural Stadium. It holds training sessions at Yoshida Soccer Park in Akitakata, Hiroshima and Hiroshima 1st Ball Park. Sanfrecce plans a move to a new stadium on 2024, which has been named Hiroshima Peace Stadium Park. It is on construction since 2021, and is scheduled to end it around the end of 2023. History As Mazda team The club was a former company team of in 1938 and played in the semi-professional Japan Soccer League. The club was an original founder ("Original Eight") of the now-disbanded Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1965. They dominated the JSL's early years, winning the title 4 times in a row – a feat that was later equaled by Yomiuri SC/Verdy Kawasaki. The name change was made at in 1981. When JSL disbanded and became the J.League in 1992, it dropped the company name and became "Sanfrecce Hiroshima". Alongside JEF United Ichihara Chiba and Urawa Red Diamonds they co-founded both leagues ("Original Ten"). During the 1969 season they participated in the Asian Club Cup, forerunner to today's AFC Champions League; at the time,