Details have been finalized for the 2026/27 J Youth Cup: 33rd J.League Youth Championship, in which FC Tokyo U-18 will participate.
Please give your warm support to FC Tokyo U-18!

Tournament Overview

<Name>

2026/27 J Youth Cup: 33rd J.League Youth Championship

<Organizer>

Japan Football Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Japan Professional Football League (Public Interest Incorporated Association)

<Co-organizer>

Japan Club Youth Soccer Federation (General Incorporated Foundation)

 <Participating Teams>

A total of 64 teams: 58 teams from J1, J2, and J3; the team affiliated with J3 in the 2025 season (Azul Claro Numazu U18); and the top five teams from the 9th Japan Club Youth Soccer (U-18) Town Club CUP 2025 (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth, Y.S.C.C. Yokohama U-18, Esperanza SC Youth, Veloskronos Tsuno U-18, and Chiba SC U-18)

<Tournament Period> *Tentative

October 2, 2026 (Fri)–June 13, 2027 (Sun)
・First Round (Group Stage): October 2, 2026 (Fri)–December 31, 2026 (Thu)
・Second Round (Group Stage): January 30, 2027 (Sat)–May 30, 2027 (Sun)
・Knockout Round (Tournament): June 5 (Sat)–June 13 (Sun), 2027
*Subject to change.

<Match Venues>

First and Second Rounds: Home grounds of participating teams, etc.
Knockout Round: All matches will be held at a central venue.

<Eligible Players>

In principle, players who meet one of the following criteria (1) to (3) and have completed JFA player registration and registration for this tournament in advance
(1) Players belonging to participating teams who are 16 years old or younger as of April 1, 2027
(2) Over-age players: Players belonging to participating teams who are 17 years old or younger as of April 1, 2027, excluding players under (1) (up to 3 FPs and 1 GK)
(3) Prospective signees: Players whose signing with a participating team has been finalized and approved by the J.League (up to 2 players)

Tournament Format

・1st Round
The 64 teams will be divided into 16 groups of four teams each and play a single round-robin league format in each group. (Three matches per team)

[1st Round Groups]

・2nd Round
The top two teams from each 1st Round group will be placed in the upper league (Groups A–H), while the bottom two teams will be placed in the lower league (Groups I–P), with each league played in a single round-robin format. (Three matches per team)

• Knockout Round
A total of 16 teams—the 1st- and 2nd-place teams from each group in the upper league of the 2nd Round—advance to a single-elimination tournament played over one match. (Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinal Round, Third-Place Playoff, Final Round)
The Knockout Round pairings will be determined by an open draw conducted by the J.League after the completion of the 2nd Round.

Game Format

・First Round, Second Round
Matches are played over 90 minutes (45 minutes in each half). If no winner is determined, the match ends in a draw.
At the conclusion of the league stage, teams are ranked by the number of points earned (win: 3 points, draw: 1 point, loss: 0 points). If teams are level on points, rankings are determined in the following order.
① Goal difference　② Total goals scored　③ Head-to-head record between the teams concerned (1. Points, 2. Goal difference, 3. Total goals scored)
④ Playing time of Category 3 registered players　⑤ Drawing of lots　*Items ①–④ are based on results from the respective round.

・Knockout Round
Matches will be played over 90 minutes (45 minutes per half). If no winner is decided, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.

Match Schedule

Match schedules will be announced on the J.League official website's tournament special page as soon as they are finalized.
Tournament Special Page: https://www.jleague.jp/special/jyouth/2026-27/