Idman.biz
The Japan Football Association (JFA) has launched a new project to discover Japanese footballers under the age of 16 who live overseas.
Idman.Biz reports that the project is called "JFA SCO GROUP Future Camp inspired by Blue Lock". The goal is to identify promising Japanese footballers living abroad and integrate them into the Japanese football development system.
The first "Future Camp" will be held from August 3–6, 2026, in Irvine, California, USA. Footballers born between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011, will be invited to the camp. Candidates must hold Japanese citizenship, have at least one parent who is Japanese, or have the right to acquire Japanese citizenship in the future.
The project is inspired by the popular football anime and manga "Blue Lock." In the story, after the Japanese national team's failure, young footballers are gathered in a special camp and compete to become the country's main striker. The new project aims to adapt this idea to real football by creating a selection platform for Japanese players growing up abroad.
JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto stated that football is becoming increasingly borderless and that the era when Japanese footballers only developed within the country is over. According to him, this initiative will help connect with talent growing in different parts of the world and integrate them into the Japanese football system.
Selected footballers at the camp will undergo training, practice matches, physical and technical tests under the supervision of JFA coaches. The organizers plan to expand the project to Europe, Asia, and other regions after the initial phase.
