The 2007 edition of the J.League Cup sponsored by Nabisco began on March 21 with reigning champions JEF United seeking to claim their 3rd successive crown. This would equal the record set by Verdy Kawasaki when the competition began in 1992. The top 4 teams of each qualifying group automatically qualified for the quarter-finals with the best two remaining runners-up. Both Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Red Diamonds were exempt from competing in the group stage, due to their entry into the Asian Champions League. They were therefore entered into the quarter-final stage which begins in the summer.