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 boys' category includes U-11 to U-18, and the girls' category includes U-11 to U-18, with a category for intellectually disabled players also being held.
・In 2018, the 44th edition, a total of 78 countries, 1,731 teams, and approximately 30,000 players are scheduled to play a total of 4,391 games on 102 fields scattered throughout the city of Gothenburg.
・During the tournament, over 60,000 people visit Gothenburg, and more than 2,200 volunteers are involved in the tournament, with a staff of 8 people at the center.
・Over 1,000,000 players from 141 countries have participated in this tournament so far.
・Gothia Cards are distributed to participating teams, providing free access to transportation and tourist facilities in the city. In addition, exchange events such as parties are also planned.
・In the past, players who have gone on to play at the top level of the world, such as Xabi Alonso (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), and Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), have participated in this tournament.
・The main achievements of teams from Japan that have participated in the past are as follows.
2013: Hokkaido 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
