Kashima Antlers Football Club (abbreviated as "Kashima Antlers", in English: Kashima Antlers) was established in 1947 and is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Kashima Antlers was formerly known as the Sumitomo Metal Industries Football Club. This team, rooted in Ibaraki Prefecture, is named "Antlers" (鹿角), symbolizing the sacred deer of Kashima Shrine, and plays its home games at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Kashima City. As a founding member of the J.League, Kashima Antlers won their first league championship in 1996 and engaged in a championship rivalry with Jubilo Iwata for several years thereafter.
In 2000, they made history in Japanese football by becoming the first team to win the league, the Emperor's Cup, and the League Cup, achieving the "treble." In 2016, Kashima Antlers made an impressive run in the FIFA Club World Cup, ultimately finishing as runners-up after a narrow defeat to Real Madrid in extra time, setting the best record for an Asian team in the tournament. In 2018, the team won their first AFC Champions League title, further solidifying their status as an Asian powerhouse.