"U-16 International Dream Cup 2017 JAPAN presented by The Asahi Shimbun" will commence at the Yurtec Stadium Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture on Wednesday 14 June. Inaugurated in 2015, the coming tournament will mark its third year of competition and the U-16 National Teams of Japan, Guinea, Netherlands and United States will compete in a single round-robin format. Among the participating teams, we will introduce U-16 Japan National Team and U-16 Guinea National Team.

U-16 Japan National Team

The U-16 Japan National Team will be the mainstay of the team for the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games after the one in Tokyo. They participated in the Montaigu Tournament in France in April and succeeded in finishing in third place after Portugal and France among 12 countries. Since some of the players may have opportunities to be selected to play for the U-17 Japan National Team, who will take part in the FIFA U-17 World Cup this October.

MORIYAMA Yoshiro Coach's Comment (U-16 Japan National Team) 
I’ll lead the team just like the two previous tournaments. This year, again we will invite the young generation from strong countries in the three continents to attend this tournament. I believe the players will improve through this great experience. I appreciate all the support for this tournament. I hope this will give the young generation opportunities to nurture themselves and to play internationally in the future.

U-16 Guinea National Team

African players often have got significant advantages, especially in under-age categories, with their physical strength. In the previous tournament, the U-16 Mali from Africa won 1-2 to ’00 JAPAN’, who now are to participate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in October. U-17 Japan struggled against U-17 Guinea in the tour of May, losing 5-3 and drawing 1-1.

Mohamed Maléah CAMARA Coach's Comment (U-16 Guinea National Team) 
First of all, I do appreciate the Japan Football Association for giving us an opportunity to participate in the DREAM CUP and to come to Japan. As for the championship, we’d like to perform as hard as possible in order to sustain our title as a team from the African continent just like Mali did in the previous tournament.

14 June 2017 (Wed.) ～ 18 June Sunday (Sun.)

Tournament Information