Borussia Dortmund Japan tour 2026

In late July 2026 Borussia Dortmund travelled to Osaka for a pre‑season friendly against J1 League side Cerezo Osaka. The match ended in a 0‑1 defeat after Osaka scored early; Dortmund also saw striker Filip Mane sustain a thigh injury and be replaced by Jan‑Luca Riedl. A moment of silence was observed for recent earthquake victims in Japan, and the squad featured a mix of first‑team and youth players.

The Osaka visit was part of a broader marketing tour that generated roughly €5 million for the club despite extreme heat, high humidity and a 7.1‑magnitude earthquake during the stay. Beyond the on‑field result, Dortmund used the trip to assess transfer targets, including 17‑year‑old Mexican winger Gilberto Mora (subject to a €20 million release clause) and possible offers for midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who is under contract until 2030. New signing Konstantinos Karetsas received additional exposure on club podcasts. Coach Niko Kovač introduced an unusual sleep schedule to mitigate jet‑lag, framing the tour as both a commercial showcase and a chance to build squad cohesion ahead of the new season.

Later reports indicated the club now projects total revenue of around €9 million (≈500 million yen) from the Japan tour, with €5 million expected to flow directly into Dortmund’s finances. Negotiations are under way with Japanese corporations such as Panasonic and Mitsubishi for multi‑million‑euro sponsorship deals that could extend beyond the preseason visit.