The JFA 26th U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship is about to kick-off on Tuesday 3 January.

The aim of this tournament is to improve the technical skills, to foster sound physical and mental development, to spread and promote, to further increase the number of club teams, and to stimulate the activities of women's football in Japan.

The 16 teams selected from nine regions will take part in the tournament, which will decide the top U-18 girls' team in Japan in an all-knockout format.

Last year, the title match was played between Cerezo Osaka Sakai Girls (Kansai 2/Osaka), who reached the final with three consecutive shutout victories, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies Youth (Kanto 5/Saitama), who played through three closely contested matches. The match started with Cerezo Osaka Sakai taking the lead in the fifth minute before Urawa equalised in the 13th minute. After a stint of stalemate, Cerezo Osaka Sakai scored the game winner in the 79th minute to claim their third title.

The two finalists from last year are both in the tournament this year. In addition, youth teams from WE League clubs like Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina (Kanto 1/Tokyo), who have won the championship an unprecedented eight times, and JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies (Kanto 2/Chiba), who have won the championship twice, are also vying for the crown. Regional clubs such as Club Fields Linda (Hokkaido) and Shimizu FC Ladies (Tokai/Shizuoka) will also be aiming to make their mark at the national tournament.

Many players who participated in this competition have gone onto play for the Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) and the under category Japan Women's National Teams. Last year’s participants, KUSUNOKI Sayami (Cerezo Osaka Sakai Girls), SHIBATA Hitomi (Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara Due) and IWASAKI Uruha (Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara Due), were selected to compete in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022™. It will be interesting to see the next generation of players emerge from this competition.

Which team will come out on top in this tournament held at J-Green Sakai. Please stay tuned for the heated battle for the U-18 women's title.

JFA 26th U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship

Tournament Dates: Tue. 3 - Mon. 9 January 2023
Venue: J-GREEN Sakai (Osaka)

Tournament Information