Consadole Sapporo preseason and season start

In mid‑July 2026, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo began a fan‑focused auction on the Hattrick platform, offering supporters the chance to attend the kickoff ceremony of the club’s 2026/27 preseason match against Nagoya Grampus. The auction ran from 15 July to 19 July and included perks such as a photo with players, a signed match ball and special‑seat access.

Ahead of the upcoming J2 League season, the club had already added several attackers, a midfielder and a defender, while preparing to replace departing centre‑back Ieizumi. Potential replacements highlighted were free‑agent Tomoki Imai, former Japan youth international Junpei Naruse and two other unnamed prospects, all chosen for their defensive experience and versatility.

A week later, on 25 July, Consadole hosted J1 side Nagoya Grampus in a preseason friendly at Miyanosawa White‑Lover Stadium. Consadole secured a 1‑0 win thanks to a goal from Thai‑born forward Tirapat. The match was praised by Nagoya’s former coach Petrović for Consadole’s organization and rapid transition play, while Consadole captain Takamine Tomoki and head coach Kenta Kawai highlighted the game’s value for preparation ahead of the new season.

On 8 August, the club secured its first season-opening victory in six seasons, defeating Tokushima 2-0. Goals were scored by new Brazilian forward Vinícius Shot and Haruto Shirai. Midfielder Kaito Kimomi started the match despite a recent left ankle injury. Additionally, the club completed its first major official website renewal since 2020, a redesign that resulted in the removal of some news archives from 2019 and earlier.