Japan U-16 football team to tour Europe for international friendlies

The Japan Football Association (JFA) has announced that the Japan U-16 national football team will embark on an unusual European tour this October and November. In collaboration with UEFA, the team will play three international friendly matches in Cyprus against the U-16 national teams of Cyprus, Romania, and the Faroe Islands.

The matches are scheduled for October 27, October 30, and November 2. While these games coincide with the schedule of the 2026-27 UEFA U-17 European Championship qualifiers, they are designated as friendlies and will not affect the official standings or results of the qualifying group.

This initiative aims to provide young players, specifically those born on or after January 1, 2010, with high-level international experience against European playing styles. JFA President Yasuyasu Miyamoto stated that such participation is a starting point for strengthening the team's competitiveness and discovering talent at an early stage.