A total of 16 teams from 7 countries (Netherlands, Germany, England, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, and Japan) are participating.
There are 4 groups of 4 teams, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the upper tournament bracket.
The opening ceremony took place at 10:00 AM.
Kashima Antlers entered second, following Arsenal. This tournament is for U12 and U13 teams, with slight variations depending on the team.
Photos from previous tournaments were displayed at the venue. (The photo shows Kakita, a current first-year junior youth player from Tsukuba.)
Match 1
● 0-3 IFK Lidingo FK (Sweden)
We conceded in the 10th minute of the first half, making it 0-1. We couldn't find our rhythm and the first half ended. In the second half, our center-back was left one-on-one with an opponent, who broke free and scored, making it 0-2. We then conceded another goal from a corner kick, and the match ended 0-3. We couldn't get into the game at all. In the post-match meeting, we discussed defensive issues again.
Match 2
● 0-2 NEC/FC Oss (Netherlands)
Learning from our first match, we all challenged ourselves with the defensive theme. We played more persistently than in the first match and created more chances. In the first half, an opponent's corner kick led to a rebound shot that deflected off a defender, changing its course and resulting in a goal, making it 0-1 at halftime. In the second half, our persistent defense helped us gain momentum, but we conceded a goal from the right side two minutes before the end. The match ended 0-2.
Match 3
● 0-1 Manchester City (England)
Our defense had been gradually improving since the first match, and we looked for opportunities, but an opponent intercepted a pass from our fullback to the defensive midfielder, leading to a goal. The first half ended 0-1. In the second half, everyone worked hard to score. We had several decisive chances but couldn't convert them, and the match ended.
As a result, we finished 4th in our group and did not advance to the upper tournament bracket.