The Vermont Cup 24th All-Japan U-12 Futsal Championship is about to begin on Sunday 4 January 2015. The 48 teams, having won their own prefecture qualifiers, will go through the first round where they are divided into 12 four-team groups before the knockout final round with the groups’ top teams and four best second-placed teams to determine the number one futsal team of the generation. We can certainly expect that heated contests will be played one after another and young players’ skills and emotions will be well displayed.

The defending champions Konan Minami Soccer Shonendan (Saitama) won the qualifiers nine years in a row to advance to the national stage. Although other teams most likely will study Konan Minami this year, they need to get through such better-prepared opponents to get closer to the second consecutive title. It’s also noteworthy that Buddy. FC (Fukuoka), who made appearance in the 39th Japan U-12 Football Championship, are in the same Group L as Konan Minami.

Group A’s favorite is Kaetsu Livent (Niigata). In the prefecture qualifiers they defeated the last year’s national tournament semi-finalists Vermelho after the extra time. Kaetsu’s challenge in the group will be against good teams such as Tsu Rapid FC who have won a national title in the past.

Malva chiba fc U-12 (Chiba) in Group C are making the national appearance for the second straight time and determined to get past the last year’s loss in the quarter-final. Furthermore, Group F’s Tamiya Victory Soccer Shonendan (Tokushima) and Group H’s Orochi Football Club (Shimane) are other notables who have playing experience in the national football championship. Group K will have another must-see match between two highly-coveted teams, Diablossa Takada FC (Nara) and Tamaku FC U-12 (Kanagawa).

Group E is also expecting competitive matches. Kashima Antlers Tsukuba Junior (Ibaraki) are the last year’s runners-up. On their way to this national tournament, they beat their club rival Kashima Antlers Junior who were quarter-finalists in the national football championship. This group also has Avanzare Sendai SC (Miyagi). Avanzare survived the extra-time prefecture final against Shiogama FC who took down last year’s semi-finalists Vegalta Sendai Junior.

The participating teams all have played tough matches and grew stronger in their prefecture qualifiers before coming to this national stage. More learning opportunities are waiting for them at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium and Ota-ku General Gymnasium, the tournament’s two match venues. Please come out to witness these young players’ challenges.

Vermont Cup 24th All Japan U-12 Futsal Championship

Sun. 4 January to Tue. 6 January 2015
Komazawa Olympic Park General Sport Ground Gymnasium, Ota-city General Gymnasium/Tokyo

More information of the championship