Airplanes sit on the tarmac at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, on Nov. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan women's national soccer team has gone into a two-week quarantine after traveling home from the Netherlands, as per the tightened entry controls imposed by the country, the Japan Football Association said Wednesday.

       Nadeshiko Japan arrived home on Wednesday after playing an international friendly against Iceland last week in the Netherlands, where the new COVID-19 Omicron variant has been detected.

       JFA said the mandatory post-travel quarantine period will affect all 18 Japan-based players, who will miss their respective team's WE League matches this Saturday. They play for Mynavi Sendai, Urawa Reds, Omiya Ardija, Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa.

       Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda and team staff are also required to follow the quarantine requirements, forcing the cancelation of the national team's domestic training camp which was scheduled for later this month.

       The new COVID-19 variant, first identified in South Africa, prompted new overseas travel restrictions in Europe. Japan on Tuesday confirmed its first Omicron variant case, a day after announcing its travel restrictions.

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