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