The JFA Uniqlo Soccer Kids is a fun soccer festival where any child of 6 years old or younger can join and have a good time. The first event in 2015 was held on Sunday 31 May at Ibaraki Kashima Soccer Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture with 1,518 participating from 121 teams.

Alongside of special guests of NAKATA Koji, Kashima Antlers C.R.O and former Japan international, and SHIOTA Tomohiro, Uniqlo employee and Deaflympics Soccer Japan National Team player, there were a quartet of mascots making appearances at the site; “Challenge Ichi Nensei (1st graders)” mascot “Korasho” from Benesse Corporation and “Shikao”, “Shikako” and “Anton” from Kashima Antlers. The popular characters posed for photos with participating kids and cheered the players on the sideline. Starting with this event at Kashima Soccer Stadium, the JFA Uniqlo Soccer kids is scheduled to be held at 14 major dome stadiums and football stadiums all over the nation.

Special Guests' Comments

NAKATA Koji, C.R.O of Kashima Antlers, Former Japan International
Kids did a great job. Did you all have fun? It was hot but you all played with great energy, so I could have fun, too. You will have many chances to play soccer and other sports. I hope we will have future national team players out of this group. Keep playing hard!

SHIOTA Tomohiro, Uniqlo Co., Ltd., Deaflympics Soccer Japan National Team Player
It was very inspiring to see kids with great energy chase the ball until the end, which is supposedly the focal point of playing football. If there is just one ball, anybody, regardless of disabilities or races, can make friends with anybody through football. I have made a lot of friends through football, too. I want to stay thankful for the environment and supportive people around me that allow me to keep playing. Also I want to keep sharing the fun of football and the importance of being thankful for people around. 

Participants' Comments

UEMURA Mayumi (Principal), KEIZO MACHADO (Player), both from Brazilian School team “Escola opcao”
We always practice at school. We practice about once a week. This Brazilian School in Mitsukaido, Joso has students from our age to high school ages. Before we came to this event, our high school students taught us how to play.

We found out this event on JFA website. We made up the team of 9 and came here today. I scored 23 goals. After I scored, I showed the celebration I have practiced. Junior high school students and high school students have many chances to play matches, but kids of our age don’t have many matches. I have never participated in an event like this, but if there is another one, I would love to come again. 

TOMINAGA Akiko (Parent), TOMINAGA Sotaro (Player), both from team “Hibari Blue”
Once a week, after finishing our kindergarten, our soccer club practice at our kindergarten’s field. Our team told us about today’s event. It was fun today. We sometimes play at our kindergarten field or nearby elementary school field, but this stadium had a very different atmosphere and it was very good. I don’t have a chance like this very often, so if there is next time, I want to come again.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Event Outline

Soccer families

Event Schedule

*The schedule for Saitama, Kanagawa and Osaka to be decided by March 2016.
*Please refer to JFA official Web site for the latest information of the venue, overview and application for the events to be decided.
JFA.jp (Japanese version only)

Special Sponsor