The J.League will continue the 'J.League Academy Global Challenge Program' established in 2012, and from July 10 (Tue) to 24 (Tue), the FC Tokyo U-18, awarded the Best Youth Development Club at the 2017 J.League Awards, will participate as the J.League Academy representative team in the '2018 Gothia Cup' held in Sweden.
【J League Academy Global Challenge Program Overview】
□Name
J League Academy Global Challenge Program
□Purpose
Establish a program themed on international goodwill and next-generation development by the J.League, promoting the J.League Academy's aim of fostering and strengthening players who will succeed globally.
□Overview
The J.League provides the club that won the "Best Youth Development Club Award" at the previous year's J.League Awards with the right to participate in the international youth tournament in the following year, along with round-trip airfare (the tournament will cover local accommodation costs).
□2018 Implementation Details:
(1) Participating Tournament
2018 Gothia Cup
(2) Dispatch Period
Jul 10 (Tue) 2018 – Jul 24 (Tue)
* The tournament period is from July 16 (Monday) to July 21 (Saturday)
(3) Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
(4) Participating Club
FC Tokyo U-18
*2017 J League Awards "Best Youth Development Club Award" winning club
【2018 Gothia Cup Overview】
□Tournament Name
2018 Gothia Cup
□Period
July 16, 2018 (Mon) - July 21, 2018 (Sat)
□Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
□Entry Countries
Sweden, Spain, England, Germany, America, 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, 13 countries including Japan
□Notes
・The world's largest international youth tournament has been held since 1975.
・The men's categories are U-11 to U-18, and the women's categories are also U-11 to U-18, with a category for athletes with intellectual disabilities as well.
・In its 44th edition in 2018, a total of 4,391 matches are scheduled to be held across 102 fields in Gothenburg, with 78 countries, 1,731 teams, and approximately 30,000 players participating.
・During the tournament period, over 60,000 people visit Gothenburg, and more than 2,200 volunteers, centered around 8 staff members, are involved in the event.
・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 Selection (runner-up in Boys 15)
2014: U-14 J-League Selection (champion in Boys 15)
2015: Verdy (champion in Boys 16), U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys 15)
2016: U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys 15)
2017: Gamba Osaka (3rd place in U-17 Elite), U-14 J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys 15)
□Official Site
http://www.gothiacup.se/eng
