Ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019, scheduled to kick-off on Saturday 26 October, the U-17 Japan National Team started their training camp on Tuesday 15 at Togane, Chiba. After launching the team in 2017, the team has won the AFC U-16 Championship title at Malaysia last year and now heads toward their ultimate goal of winning the world title.

Following the press conference held by coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro on Friday 4, where the 21-man roster was announced, the entire squad managed to report to the training camp without any injuries. At the beginning of the training session, the team held a moment of silence for the victims of Typhoon No. 19. The team’s camp site in Togane was also affected by this typhoon, as the facility had no power supply until recent, but with the tireless efforts made by the staffs, the team was able to hold their training camp as scheduled. With the players gathered from different teams, some had just played in a match on the day before, so the team conducted sperate menus depending on the players’ fitness. The session lasted about an hour, as the players were seen playing a possession game at the end to work up a sweat.

In the evening, former player of Kashima Antlers (current Kashima Antlers Academy Advisor), Mr. OGASAWARA Mitsuo, was welcomed as a guest speaker to share his experience to the players. As a player, Mr. Ogasawara was a member of the Japanese squad that finished in second place at the World Youth Championship in 1999, played in two World Cups, and also played in the Club World Cup with his club. The players listened closely to the stories told by Mr. Ogasawara and asked many questions afterwards.

The team will hold another short training session on Wednesday 16, before making their ways to Brazil. The team will train in Brazil ahead of their first group stage match against the U-17 Netherlands National Team on Sunday 27.

Players' Comments

DF #2 SUZUKI Kaito (Jubilo Iwata U-18)
The training camp for the U-17 World Cup has finally begun, and I am feeling overwhelmed right now. We were given the opportunity to listen to Mr. Ogasawara’s stories from his playing career, as he shared us his experience at the World Cup. The phrase “intense ambition” has left a strong impression in my mind, and it allowed me to rethink about my current state. We will work together as a team to achieve our goal of winning the tournament title. We hope to deliver a positive news to Japan and for those who were affected by the typhoon.

MF #13 YOKOKAWA Asahi (Shonan Bellmare U-18)
As much as I feel honoured to be a part of this squad for the U-17 World Cup, I am also feeling the responsibility to play in behalf of those members who couldn’t make it into this 21-man roster. We hope to unite as one, just like how the Rugby Japan National Team has shown at the Rugby World Cup and strive to make a deep run at the tournament. Personally, I hope to showcase a positive performance that can lead me to clubs overseas and to upper categories of the national team.

MF #20 MITSUDA Shuto (Nagoya Grampus U-18)
I am very happy to be selected into the squad for the U-17 World Cup. I will give my utmost efforts to represent Japan and play in behalf of the members who couldn’t make it into this team. The team is surrounded by a very positive atmosphere and we are totally focused to achieve our goal, so we will prepare ourselves in the best way possible ahead of the World Cup. I will utilise my speed and dribble skills to challenge the world. We will fight as a team to take down the world title.

Schedule

*JFA Technical Director SEKIZUKA Takashi will attend team from Sat. 26 October to Sun. 3 November.
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019

Tournament Duration: Sat. 26 October - Sun. 17 November 2019

Group Stage:
Mon. 28 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Netherlands National Team

Thu. 31 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 USA National Team

Sun. 3 November 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Senegal National Team

Tournament Information