“JOC Junior Olympic Cup - the 18th All Japan Women’s Youth Football Championship” selects the top U-18 women’s football club team will start on 3 January at J-GREEN Sakai (Osaka). 16 teams selected from 9 regions will play in a knock out tournament to win this championship.

For several years since this Championship was launched in 1997, it was held mainly amongst prefectural squad teams. Since 2005, it was shifted to a competition amongst individual teams hence U-18 players started to join in this competition regardless of club teams or school football teams.

In 2012, the Championship changed its policy and only club teams could participate in this championship to encourage growth in the number of women’s football clubs. At the same time, the age limit was extended to 22, but it has since gone back to 18 since this year*. High school women’s football clubs now compete in All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, which is held every August, and another All Japan High School Women’s Football Championship which takes place every January.
* 5 players aged up to 22 are allowed to play.

In the past, many popular national players have played in this championship such as KUMAGAI Saki（Olympique Lyonnais/France）, UTSUGI Rumi（Montpellier Herault Sport Club/France）, KAWASUMI Nahomi（INAC Kobe）, TAKASE Megumi（INAC Kobe）, and SAKAGUCHI Mizuho（NTV Beleza）. HASEGAWA Yui（NTV Beleza）and ENDO Yu （NTV Beleza）were recently members of U-17 National Women’s Football team that won the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. These two players improved themselves by experiencing important matches like this Championship since they were U-15.

Check out this Championship. You will find future Nadeshiko Japan national squad members in this competition. It will choose No.1 U-18 club team.

JOC Junior Olympic Cup The 18th All Japan Youth Women's Football Tournament

Sat. 3 January 2015 〜 Wed. 7 January 2015
Osaka/J-GREEN Sakai

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