Every year, the Brazil expedition includes players, primarily third-year junior high school students from the junior youth team.
They participate in the "25th Japan-Brazil Friendship Cup," organized by Zico Club Advisor, which is the largest U-15 tournament in Brazil. There, they compete against strong Brazilian clubs and engage in cross-cultural exchange through soccer.
On the first day of the expedition, all participating players gathered, and Academy Manager Shuto Suzuki spoke about the meaning of this expedition and the importance of what they wanted to cherish. They reconfirmed the rules of conduct and the importance of physical condition management before departing for the expedition.
After approximately 26 hours of travel, including transit from Narita, they safely arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
Upon arrival, they moved to their hotel, where they were introduced to the staff who would support them during the expedition and received explanations about precautions for their stay, preparing for training in Brazil starting the next day.
On the morning of the first training day, after breakfast, they took a stroll to a nearby beach.
In the afternoon, after training with three teams, they played a training match against Flamengo U-14. Many players were affected by the long journey, making them realize the difficulty of overseas expeditions. However, through the training match, they experienced the Brazilian attitude towards soccer and learned how to manage their condition during an overseas trip.
The day before the "Japan-Brazil Friendship Cup," they trained at the Zico Football Center. They played an inter-squad match, with many plays showing their determination not to lose, allowing them to prepare well for the tournament.
On Sunday, August 31, the "25th Japan-Brazil Friendship Cup" began. In the group stage, held from Sunday, August 31 to Tuesday, September 2, the three Kashima Antlers Junior Youth teams competed against strong Brazilian club academies in their respective groups.
Participating Teams
・Group A: CR Flamengo, Cruzeiro EC, Cuiabá EC, Kashima Antlers Norte Junior Youth
・Group B: CR Vasco da Gama, Grêmio FBPA, EC Vitória, Kashima Antlers Tsukuba Junior Youth
・Group C: Fluminense FC, Atlético Mineiro, Bangu, Kashima Antlers Junior Youth
・Group D: Botafogo FR, Santos FC, Coritiba FC, U-15 J.League Selection
Group Stage Results
Group A: Norte Junior Youth
Matchday 1: Sunday, August 31 vs. Cuiabá 1-3 (Scorer: Moro)
Matchday 2: Monday, September 1 vs. Flamengo 0-6
Matchday 3: Tuesday, September 2 vs. Cruzeiro 0-1
Group B: Tsukuba Junior Youth
Matchday 1: Sunday, August 31 vs. Grêmio 1-3 (Scorer: Takahashi)
Matchday 2: Monday, September 1 vs. Vitória 2-3 (Scorers: Takahashi, Kusano)
Matchday 3: Tuesday, September 2 vs. CR Vasco da Gama 0-7
Group C: Kashima Junior Youth
Matchday 1: Sunday, August 31 vs. Fluminense 1-1 (Scorer: Enoki)
Matchday 2: Monday, September 1 vs. Atlético Mineiro 5-5 (Scorers: Kakinuma, Doi x3, Nakamura)
Matchday 3: Tuesday, September 2 vs. Bangu 2-2 (Scorers: Kakinuma, Doi)
Facing strong Brazilian teams, all teams were initially overwhelmed by the ground conditions and physical differences, but they gradually adapted and were able to express their own style of play in some moments.
However, the physical prowess and outstanding individual talent of their opponents made them realize the gap that still exists with the world's best. The players continued to play with spirit until the end, but they likely learned that Brazilian players do not miss a single gap or mistake, and they will surely score.
The group stage schedule involved continuous matches for three days, leading to player fatigue, and the three teams had different, hectic schedules. Nevertheless, players were seen actively leading their teammates, preparing, and encouraging each other within each team, showing growth.
Although all three teams were eliminated in the group stage, the players who experienced world-class standards will surely remember their regret and determination from this tournament and use it as fuel for their future activities after returning to Japan.
The "Japan-Brazil Friendship Cup" final was contested between CR Flamengo and CR Vasco da Gama. The match showcased high technical skill and intense play from both teams. The junior youth players from the three schools also watched, exchanging opinions while observing the play of the opponents they had faced in the tournament, their gazes fixed intently on the pitch.
After a closely contested match, Flamengo won the championship in a penalty shootout. The players learned a great deal from the high-level game that perfectly concluded the tournament.
After the award ceremony for the final match, a closing ceremony was held by the three Antlers schools. Zico CA also attended the ceremony and offered words of encouragement to everyone. Furthermore, each player had a commemorative photo taken with Zico CA, which was a great encouragement. With that experience in their hearts, the players vowed to grow further upon their return home.
In addition, during breaks from the tournament, they had the opportunity to watch authentic Brazilian soccer at Maracanã Stadium. They attended the Campeonato Brasileiro Round 22 match between Flamengo and Grêmio on Saturday, August 30. The players were overwhelmed by the world's largest stadium and excited by the heated match.
On Thursday, September 4, they watched the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American qualifier between Brazil and Chile at Maracanã Stadium. Seeing world-class players up close, the players were extremely excited even during warm-ups.
Beyond watching matches, they also aimed to experience Brazilian culture by sightseeing in downtown Rio de Janeiro. At Corcovado, a hill in Rio de Janeiro approximately 710m high, the players happily took photos and gazed at the Christ the Redeemer statue they had seen on TV.
At the largest shopping mall in South America, they also enjoyed time searching for souvenirs for family and friends.
After completing all activities in Brazil, the players took a bus to Rio de Janeiro International Airport and began their journey back to Japan. At the airport, they expressed gratitude to those who had helped them locally and said their goodbyes.
After a long flight of approximately 25 hours, they arrived at Narita Airport, concluding the expedition.
During the nearly two-week expedition, the players gained invaluable experience competing against Brazilian players of their age group, watching top-level matches, and experiencing world standards. The regret and satisfaction felt at the "Japan-Brazil Friendship Cup" will be used as motivation for their activities from September onwards.