First-of-its-kind international scouting initiative connects overseas-based players with Japan’s elite football development pathway

TOKYO — May 11, 2026 — The Japan Football Association (JFA), in partnership with SCO Group Co., Ltd., today announced the launch of JFA × SCO GROUP “FUTURE CAMP inspired by BLUE LOCK,” a new international scouting and development initiative designed to identify promising football talent of Japanese heritage living overseas and connect them with Japan’s elite player development pathway.

The first FUTURE CAMP will take place August 3–6, 2026 in Irvine, California, marking the JFA’s first large-scale overseas talent identification program. The initiative expands the association’s traditional domestic scouting framework to identify and support players developing outside Japan.

“Football is becoming borderless, and the era when Japanese players develop solely within Japan is over,” said Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japan Football Association and former captain of the Japan national team. “We hope this initiative will help us connect with talented players around the world and support their growth within Japanese football.”

The program will provide selected youth athletes with opportunities to train and be evaluated by JFA coaches through training sessions, match play, and physical and technical assessments. Organizers say the initiative is designed to strengthen connections with players who hold Japanese nationality, have at least one Japanese parent, or may be eligible for Japanese nationality in the future.

The program has been described as an international extension of Japan’s National Training Center development model, creating new pathways for overseas-based players to engage with Japan’s national football structure.

The initiative is being launched in collaboration with the globally popular soccer manga and anime franchise BLUE LOCK, which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide as of October 2025. Known for its themes of ambition, self-discovery, and competitive excellence, the series’ message of striving to become the world’s best striker serves as a symbolic inspiration for the program.

“Ever since the anime adaptation was greenlit, the entire anime staff has genuinely aimed to create a work that changes the world,” said Ryoya Arisawa, producer of the BLUE LOCK anime adaptation.

Muneyuki Kaneshiro, the original creator of BLUE LOCK, added: “A real-life BLUE LOCK is about to begin. I was creating manga with everything I had, and it linked with the dreams of passionate football people, and a real plan was born. I hope this becomes a place for discovering talent that surpasses even BLUE LOCK itself.”

Following the inaugural camp in the United States, the JFA plans to expand FUTURE CAMP to Europe, Asia, and other regions as part of its broader effort to strengthen Japan’s global scouting network.

FUTURE CAMP — Event Details

Selection Process Schedule

JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto
•"I am pleased that, with the support of SCO Group, JFA is taking its first step into an overseas talent discovery project. As world football rapidly globalizes, the environment surrounding Japanese football is changing significantly. This is not limited to the top categories. Even at the youth level, the places where players grow, learn, and play are expanding across the world. Japanese football development can no longer be completed domestically alone. That is why we ourselves must flexibly evolve the framework of Japanese football.
•"FUTURE CAMP" was launched as the first step in this new challenge. There are players around the world challenging their own potential. In recent years, JFA has received an increasing number of inquiries regarding youth development overseas, and the presence of players we had not been able to connect with is gradually becoming visible.
•“Through this project, we want to create new points of contact with overseas-based talent and provide opportunities to develop world-class skills and the player qualities outlined in "Japan's Way." Believing in one's own potential and taking on challenges is not easy. Yet the future that players who take that step will carve out is connected to the future of Japanese football. I truly believe this.”
•This first edition will be held in the United States, but going forward, we hope to expand continuously to Europe, Asia, and beyond.
•Finally, as "JFA × SCO GROUP FUTURE CAMP inspired by BLUE LOCK," I am encouraged that we can begin this challenge together with a work that has depicted the determination to truly become the world's best."

SCO Group Chairman Yusuke Tamai
•"For Japanese football to reach even greater heights—that is, to become the world's best—the blossoming of yet-unseen, overwhelming talent is essential.
•I am truly honored to launch this ambitious project together with JFA and with the power of BLUE LOCK, a work that has thrilled so many fans.
•Breaking free from conventional thinking, discovering and refining talent with an "egoist" level of determination that transcends borders—this is the very spirit of "challenge" that we at SCO Group hold dear.
•Young players fighting in different environments overseas will forge their path to the national team through this FUTURE CAMP and eventually shine on the world stage. We feel great joy and responsibility in being able to support that first step. Let us rewrite the future of Japanese football together."

BLUE LOCK Creator: Muneyuki Kaneshiro
•"A real-life BLUE LOCK is about to begin.
•I was creating manga with everything I had, and it linked with the dreams of passionate football people, and a real plan was born.
•I hope this becomes a place for discovering talent that surpasses even BLUE LOCK itself. We're waiting for true egoists who aim to win the World Cup."

BLUE LOCK Illustrator: Yusuke Nomura
•"The egoists we imagine might actually exist in this real world...No, I'm sure they do!
•We're waiting for applications from all you egotistical people who believe: I am the world's greatest striker!"

Anime "BLUE LOCK" Producer: Ryoya Arisawa
•"Ever since the anime adaptation was greenlit, the entire anime staff has been genuinely aiming to create a work that changes the world.
•The fact that such a dream-like, seemingly impossible ＼"ego＼" has finally reached JFA and made this collaboration a reality—I am deeply moved!
•I eagerly await the moment when the world's greatest striker, one who will change the future of football, is born!"

About SCO Group
The SCO Group, guided by its vision of "Creating a '105-Year Lifespan' through Technology," develops and provides next-generation operational systems that support the future of dental care. We offer multifaceted and practical solutions to dental clinics nationwide, including support for cashless payment system implementation, operational efficiency improvements, and medical equipment procurement, helping dentists, dental hygienists, and staff maximize their expertise for the benefit of patients. Furthermore, we actively participate in and support sports, aiming to create a sustainable society that supports health from both a mental and physical perspective by providing people with a sense of purpose and a positive outlook on life.