On Thursday 17 October, the U-17 Japan National Team arrived in Sao Paulo, where they will hold a preparation camp ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019. The team had left Narita International Airport on the evening of Wednesday 16, spent the next 30 hours traveling before arriving to Sao Paulo International Airport. The preparation camp will be held at the facility of Sao Paulo FC Academy, where the U-22 Japan National Team had recently held their camp. The facility consists with multiple training fields, a stadium, gym, and swimming pool, providing a perfect environment for the players to prepare for the World Cup.

After arriving to the facility around noon of Thursday 17, the team held a meeting where coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro gave a pep-talk to his players. The Japanese coach told his players to enjoy the greatest sport event, strive to improve each day, and to never take for granted of this experience. The players were then sent off to the training field as the coach concluded the meeting by saying, “For the next month, let’s stick together as a team and fight until the very end.” At the training session, the players were led by conditioning coach OGAI Tomohiro to conduct a light conditioning session, as they were seen going through jogs and stretches to loosen up their bodies.

The U-17 Japan National Team will start to pick up their pace in their trainings from Friday 18, as the team is scheduled to face the U-17 Nigeria National Team in a friendly match on Sunday 20, before they make ways to Vitoria on Wednesday 23, where the tournament will be held.

Players' Comments

GK #21 SASAKI Masato (Kashiwa Reysol U-18)
I am honoured to be selected into this squad for the U-17 World Cup. We trained for a couple days in Japan before leaving the country, so I feel like we are in good condition. We held a light training session after we arrived in Brazil and the team is surrounded by a very positive atmosphere. I am grateful to be given such wonderful environment to play football. Ahead of our first match against the Netherlands, we will prepare ourselves in the best way possible to achieve our goal of reaching the semi-finals.

DF #15 MURAKAMI Yosuke (Omiya Ardija U18)
I am very happy to be named in this squad for the U-17 World Cup. The campsite in Brazil is wonderful, and the team was able to start the camp with a great vibe. In order to make a deep run at this tournament, we will give our best efforts to prepare ourselves ahead of our first match against the Netherlands.

FW #11 TOYAMA Shoji (Gamba Osaka Youth)
I am so glad that I was named into this squad for the U-17 World Cup. This may not be the World Cup for the senior team, but playing in the World Cup was my dream, so I am looking forward for this experience. The team is in great form, so we will continue to strive to win the title. As a forward, I will give my best efforts to help the team win matches by scoring goals.

Schedule

*JFA Technical Director SEKIZUKA Takashi will attend team from Sat. 26 October to Sun. 3 November.
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019

Tournament Duration: Sat. 26 October - Sun. 17 November 2019

Group Stage:
Mon. 28 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Netherlands National Team

Thu. 31 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 USA National Team

Sun. 3 November 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Senegal National Team

Tournament Information