The J.League will participate in the "J.League Academy Global Challenge Program" established in 2012, and following last year, FC Tokyo U-18, winner of the 2017 J.League Awards for Best Development Club, will participate as the J.League Academy representative team in the "2018 Gothia Cup" held in Sweden from July 10 (Tue) to 24 (Tue).
【J League Academy Global Challenge Program Overview】
□Name
J League Academy Global Challenge Program
□Purpose
Establish a program with the theme of international friendship and next-generation development by the J-League, and promote the development and strengthening of players who can play an active role in the world, which is the aim of the J-League Academy.
□Overview
From the J.League, the club that won the "Best Development Club Award" at the previous year's J.League Awards will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the international youth tournament of the following year and round-trip air tickets (the tournament will cover the local expenses).
□2018 Implementation Details:
(1) Tournament Participation
2018 Gothia Cup
(2) Dispatch Period
July 10, 2018 (Tue) - July 24, 2018 (Tue)
※Tournament period: Jul 16 (Mon) - Jul 21 (Sat)
(3) Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
(4) Participating Club
FC Tokyo U-18
※2017 J.League Awards "Best Development Club" winning club
【2018 Gothia Cup Overview】
□Tournament Name
2018 Gothia Cup
□Period
Jul 16 (Mon) - Jul 21 (Sat)
□Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
□Entry Country
Sweden, Spain, England, Germany, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Japan, and 78 other countries
□B17 Elite Entry Countries (FC Tokyo Participation)
Sweden, Ivory Coast, Poland, Jamaica, Ghana, France, Spain, United States, Ghana, Nigeria, England, Macedonia, Japan - 13 countries
□Remarks
・The world's largest international youth tournament, held since 1975.
・The men's categories are U-11 to U-18, and the women's categories are U-11 to U-18, with a category for athletes with intellectual disabilities also being held.
・In its 44th edition in 2018, a total of 4,391 matches are scheduled to be held across 102 fields in the city of Gothenburg, with 78 countries, 1,731 teams, and approximately 30,000 players participating.
・During the tournament period, over 60,000 people are expected to visit Gothenburg, with more than 2,200 volunteers involved, centered around 8 staff members.
・Over 1,000,000 players from 141 countries have participated in this tournament to date.
・Participating teams receive a Gothia Card, which provides free access to public transportation and tourist facilities in the city. Additionally, social events such as parties are also planned.
・In the past, players who later excelled at the top level worldwide, such as Xabi Alonso (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), and Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), have participated.
・The main past achievements of teams from Japan are as follows.
2013: Consadole Sapporo (runner-up in Boys 16), U-14 J-League Select (runner-up in Boys 15)
2014: U-14 J-League Select (champion in Boys 15)
2015: Tokyo Verdy (champion in Boys 16), U-14 J-League Select (3rd place in Boys 15)
2016: U-14 J-League Select (3rd place in Boys 15)
2017: Gamba Osaka (3rd place in U-17 Elite), U-14 J-League Select (3rd place in Boys 15)
Official Website
http://www.gothiacup.se/eng
