The J.League will participate in the "2018 Gothia Cup" held in Sweden from July 10 (Tue) to 24 (Tue) for the second consecutive year, as part of the "J.League Academy Global Challenge Program" newly established in 2012. FC Tokyo U-18, winner of the 2017 J.League Awards for Best Development Club, will participate as the J.League Academy representative team.
[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 J-League, and promote the aim of J-League Academy, "development and strengthening of players who will play an active role in the world".
Summary
From the J.League, to the club that won the "Best Development Club Award" at the previous year's J.League Awards, we will provide the opportunity to participate in the international youth tournament and round-trip air tickets for the following year (the tournament will cover the local expenses).
□2018 Implementation Details:
(1) Tournament
2018 Gothia Cup
(2) Dispatch Period
July 10, 2018 (Tue) ~ July 24, 2018 (Tue)
※Tournament period: July 16 (Mon) to July 21 (Sat)
(3) Venue
Gothenburg, Sweden
(4) Participating Clubs
FC Tokyo U-18
※2017 J.League Awards "Best Youth Development Club" Winning Club
【2018 Gothia Cup Overview】
□Tournament Name
2018 Gothia Cup
Period
July 16th (Mon) - July 21st (Sat), 2018
□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 Country (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.
- The 44th edition in 2018 will feature a total of 4,391 matches played by 1,731 teams from 78 countries and approximately 30,000 players on 102 fields scattered throughout the city of Gothenburg.
- During the tournament, over 60,000 people will visit Gothenburg, with a staff of 8 people and over 2,200 volunteers involved in the event.
- Over 1 million players from 141 countries have participated in this tournament so far.
- Participating teams will receive a Gothia Card, which grants free access to transportation and tourist attractions in the city. There will also be exchange events such as parties.
- In the past, players who have gone on to excel 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 Japanese teams that have participated in the past are as follows.
2013: Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (runner-up in Boys16), J-League Selection (runner-up in Boys15)
2014: J-League Selection (champion in Boys15)
2015: Verdy (champion in Boys16), J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
2016: J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
2017: Gamba Osaka (3rd place in U-17 Elite), J-League Selection (3rd place in Boys15)
Official Website
http://www.gothiacup.se/eng
