Background <p>Chronotype, a biological marker of activity–rest patterns, significantly influences sleep patterns, hormone release, body temperature, and physical and mental performance, with potential implications for optimizing sports performance. Recent findings suggest that morning-type athletes perform best in the morning, whereas evening-type athletes excel in the afternoon or evening.</p> Aims <p>To examine the effects of chronotypes on the physical and psychological health of Japanese university soccer players.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1084 male university soccer players, classified as morning-type (79.6%) or evening-type (20.4%) based on their Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire scores.</p> Results <p>Evening-type athletes reported higher psychological strain, as indicated by their elevated Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale scores. Evening-type athletes also reported greater use of electronic devices before bedtime and experienced more daytime dysfunction during travel. However, there were no significant differences in injury incidence or physical characteristics between the two chronotype groups.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings are consistent with previous reports on the correlation between evening chronotypes and increased mental health vulnerabilities, suggesting that chronotype-specific training and mental health interventions could enhance athletic performance and overall well-being. Future research on chronotype-based training to enhance mental health and optimize performance among university athletes is warranted.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>