The FC Tokyo U-18, winner of the 2017 J.League Awards Best Youth Development Club, will participate in the "2018 Gothia Cup" held in Sweden from July 10 (Tue) to July 24 (Tue) as the J.League Academy representative team, continuing from last year. This is part of the J.League Academy Global Challenge Program newly established by the J.League in 2012.
[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(2018 Gothia Cup) Overview】
□Event Name
2018 Gothia Cup
□Period
Jul 16 (Mon) - Jul 21 (Sat)
□Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
□Entry countries
Sweden, Spain, England, Germany, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Japan, and 78 other countries
□B17 Elite Entry Country (FC Tokyo Participation)
Sweden, Ivory Coast, Poland, Jamaica, Ghana, France, Spain, United States, Ghana, Nigeria, England, Macedonia, Japan - 13 countries
□Notes
- The world's largest international youth tournament, held since 1975.
- The boys' tournament is held in the U-11 to U-18 categories, and the girls' tournament is held in the U-11 to U-18 categories, including a category for intellectually disabled players.
- The 44th edition in 2018 is scheduled to have a total of 4,391 matches played by 1,731 teams from 78 countries, with approximately 30,000 players, on 102 fields scattered throughout the city of Gothenburg.
- During the tournament, over 60,000 people visit Gothenburg, and more than 2,200 volunteers, led by 8 staff members, are involved in the event.
- Over 1,000,000 players from 141 countries have participated in this tournament so far.
- Participating teams receive a Gothia Card, which provides free access to local transportation, tourist attractions, and more. In addition, social events such as parties are also planned.
- In the past, players who later excelled at the highest level in the world, such as Xabi Alonso (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), and Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), have participated in the tournament.
- The main achievements of teams from Japan that have participated in the past are as follows:
2013: Consadole Sapporo (runner-up in Boys16), U-14 J-League Selection (runner-up in Boys15)
2014: U-14 J-League Selection (champion in Boys15)
2015: Tokyo Verdy (champion in Boys16), U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
2016: U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
2017: Gamba Osaka (3rd place in U-17 Elite), U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
Official Website
http://www.gothiacup.se/eng
