NEWS
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 - Japan to meet Mali National Team and Ukraine National Team in March - ‘KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 in EUROPE’ to be held on 27 March - A record, eight games will be played in a year
09 February 2018
SAMURAI BLUE’s matches during the planned Europe tour in March have been arranged. SAMURAI BLUE will face the Mali National Team on Friday 23 March and the Ukraine National Team on Tuesday 27 March. Both games will be held at Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liège, Belgium.
The match against the Ukraine National Team on Tuesday 27 March will be held as the ‘Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 in EUROPE,’ specially presented by the Japan National football team's official partners, Kirin Co., Ltd., and Kirin Beverage Co., Limited. It will be the first time the Kirin Challenge Cup will be held abroad.
The Japan Football Association would also like to announce that SAMURAI BLUE’s upcoming four international friendlies in October and November will be held as the ‘Kirin Challenge Cup 2018,’ specially sponsored by the Japan National football team's official partners, Kirin Co., Ltd., and Kirin Beverage Co., Limited. With a total of eight games, it will be the most ‘Kirin Challenge Cup’ games played in one year.
The details of the game will be as follows:
International Friendly Match【Friday, 23 March@Belgium/Liege】Information
Date:
Friday 23 March 2018 Kick Off TBC
Fixture:
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Mali National Team
Venue:
Belgium/Liege Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 in EUROPE【Tuesday, 27 March @Belgium/Liege】Tournament outline
Date:
Tuesday, 27 March 2018 Kick Off TBC
Fixture:
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Ukraine National Team
Venue:
Belgium/Liege Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
Title sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Special Sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Japan National football team's official supplier:
adidas Japan K.K
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
* The match is organised by Japan Football Association. The ticket information will be announced as it is determined.
Vahid HALILHODZIC, Coach’s Comment
Matches against Mali and Ukraine were arranged to simulate the World Cup group stage opponents. Mali is a typical African team with speed and physical strength. Their team consist with players who can single-handedly change the game. Ukraine, on the other hand, tends to display typical East European playing style, passing the ball around skillfully. It will be an essential opportunity before the main tournament to discern the appropriate line-ups. I’d like to check everything, including the players’ condition, so that we can prepare well prior to the World Cup.
[ Reference ] Fixture related data
Mali National Team
・FIFA Ranking (18 January 2018 Updated): 71th
・Past match results: None
Ukraine National Team
・FIFA Ranking (18 January 2018 Updated): 35th
・Past match results: 1 wins and 1 loss (1 score and 1 Goal against)
2002/03/21 | ○ 1-0 | KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2002 (Japan/Osaka) |
---|---|---|
2005/10/12 | ● 0-1 | International Friendly Match (Ukraine/Kyiv) |
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 Tournament outline
Date:
Friday 12 October Night game plan
Fixture:
TBC
Venue:
Niigata/Denka Big Swan Stadium
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
Host Association:
Niigata Football Association
Title sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Special Sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Japan National football team's official supplier:
adidas Japan K.K
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 Tournament outline
Date:
Tuesday 16 October Night game plan
Fixture:
TBC
Venue:
Saitama/Saitama Stadium 2○○2
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
Host Association:
Saitama Football Association
Title sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Special Sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Japan National football team's official supplier:
adidas Japan K.K
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 Tournament outline
Date:
Friday 16 November Night game plan
Fixture:
TBC
Venue:
Oita/Oita Stadium
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
Host Association:
Oita Football Association
Title sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Special Sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Japan National football team's official supplier:
adidas Japan K.K
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 Tournament outline
Date:
Tuesday 20 November Night game plan
Fixture:
TBC
Venue:
Aichi/TOYOTA STADIUM
Organiser:
Japan Football Association
Host Association:
Aichi Football Association
Title sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Special Sponsor:
Kirin Co., Ltd., Kirin Beverage Co., Limited.
Japan National football team's official supplier:
adidas Japan K.K
TV Broadcasting:
TBC
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