The 26th Vermont Cup All Japan U-12 Futsal Championship will kick off on Friday 12 August. The participating teams are expected to put up heated battles for the three days until the final scheduled day on Sunday 14.

A total of 48 teams, one from each prefecture except Hokkaido (which had the most teams in the preliminary in the previous year) with two, will compete in this year’s tournament. They will be divided into 12 four-team groups to play in the first round. The top teams in each group and four top second-place finishers will advance to the 16-team knockout round with the title of the best U-12 futsal team in Japan at stake.

The past three champion teams are in the championship this time. Kounan-Minami Boys Soccer Club (Saitama Prefecture), winners in 2014 and finalists in January 2015, played against Kashima Antlers Tsukuba Junior (Ibaraki Prefecture), the champions that time. Elsewhere, Brincar FC (Aichi Prefecture), who captured the title as an Aichi Prefecture team for the first time in the previous tournament in August, 2015, and their opponents in the championship match Malva Chiba fc U-12 (Chiba Prefecture) will compete as well. Tomozo SC (Tochigi Prefecture), who made it to the final four in the previous tournament, are also in it. With those strong teams, the competitions are expected to be even tougher this year.

From the 25th Vermont Cup in 2015, the tournment is played in August rather than January. The heat stemming from the summer weather affects the manner (tactics) in which the game is played. Unlike the previous championship in the winter, more players are introduced as it required more stamina to play. Tactically, rather having the same core members on the pitch, teams used “sets of four players” substituted after certain duration of time. 

The quality of futsal has seen some changes. The current futsal teams utilise different systems from eight-man football (one goalkeeper and seven field player) widely played at elementary schools. For example, they make use of their 2-4-1 and 3-3-1 formations and incorporate them into 2-2 or 3-1 systems, adding variety to playing styles. The philosophy of “futsal inside football” has been recognized among the coaches. Because they have better understanding of futsal, they can get in the game more smoothly and apply wide range of tactics.

What is important about this championship is that winning isn’t the biggest goal. Of course, it is significant to aim for the title, but it has more value that they grow as better players in the course of the tournament.

Brincar were thought to be in the best position to win the last championship. However, they lost their second game in the first round and cried out with frustration “what have we done until this point!” Instead of giving up, they learned from experiencing this touch match and ended up winning the cup.

FURUI Shunpei, the coach of Brincar, latter commented “without that loss, we probably wouldn’t have won the championship. While we played through tough matches, our players kept improving. It was not only pleasing but also encouraging to see them grow up. This stage is where you see huge growth from youth players. The championship was the result of their daily effort and experience received during the course of the tournament.”

There are many players that competed in this tournament and went on becoming professional players and, then, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan men’s national team). Some of them end up playing for the national futsal team. This is a stage that one can grow not only as a player, but also as a person. We hope you come and witness this exciting event.

Vermont Cup All Japan U-12 Futsal Championship

Fri. 12 August - Sun. 14 August 2016
Tokyo/Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium、Ota-City General Gymnasium
Match information