All matches free for elementary school children and younger, by Mercari

All children of elementary school age or younger nationwide can watch home games held at Mercari Stadium for free in some seat categories!

Target match

・All 2026/27 Meiji Yasuda J1 League home games
・All 2026/27 J.League YBC Levain Cup home games (excluding the final)

*Emperor's Cup is not included.
*Information regarding AFC (Asian Football Confederation) tournaments will be provided separately.
*This initiative will not be implemented if the venue is not Mercari Stadium.
*Changes may occur due to social conditions.

Applicable seating categories

【Matches held on Saturdays and Sundays】
・East Zone - Unreserved (Upper backstand area)
・Wheelchair seating

【Weekday Matches】
・Home Goal Area North - Reserved (North Stand Lower Deck Area)
・Wheelchair Seating

Target audience

・Matches held from August 2026 to March 2027
Eligibility: Children born on or after April 2, 2014 (elementary school age or younger in fiscal year 2026)

・Matches held from April 2027 to June 2027
Eligibility: Children born on or after April 2, 2015 (elementary school age or younger in fiscal year 2027)

*For children eligible for free tickets, if you are attending with a junior high school student or older, please purchase a paid ticket for the same seat type.
*For preschoolers, if they will be watching from an accompanying adult's lap, one preschooler per accompanying adult does not require a ticket. If a seat is required, a ticket will be necessary, so please obtain a free ticket for each child.

Maximum quantity per order

For each match, a maximum of 6 tickets can be purchased per transaction.
*For home games held on weekdays, up to 12 tickets can be purchased per transaction.
*If you wish to purchase 20 or more tickets, please use the group ticket application form.

*Group ticket discounts will not be offered for home games held on weekdays. If they are offered, we will announce it separately in the ticket sales information for each match.

Click here for more information about group tickets

How to purchase tickets

If you wish to watch a game in the West Zone or East Zone with two elementary school children or younger and two adults

STEP1

Access ShikaTicket and select the match you wish to attend.

STEP 2

From the list of seat types, select either "[Free for elementary school students and younger] West General Admission" or "[Free for elementary school students and younger] East General Admission."

STEP 3

Select your membership tier.
*General public should select "General Sale."

STEP4

Enter the number of tickets required for elementary school-aged children and younger.

STEP5

Select "Find other seats."
*If you have already applied for an adult ticket, select "Proceed to purchase."

STEP6

From the seating area list, select either "West Zone Unreserved Seating" or "East Zone Unreserved Seating."
※Please choose the same seating area as for elementary school students and younger.

STEP7

Select your membership tier.

STEP 8

Enter the number of tickets required for adults.

STEP9

After confirming the number of tickets and the price, check the box and select "Proceed to purchase." Then, select your ticket delivery method (QR only) and payment method to complete your purchase.
*Your purchase is complete when the purchase completion screen is displayed.
When you arrive at the venue, please display the QR ticket for the relevant match from the Kashima Ticket menu button and hold it over the dedicated terminal at the gate.

If you wish to watch a match from the Home Goal Back North Stand Designated Seats (for weekday matches)

STEP 1

Select your desired seating type from the seating type list.

STEP2

Please select QR Ticket. *If you select paper tickets, you will not be able to purchase them.

STEP3

Select your membership grade.

STEP 4

You can choose whether or not to reserve a seat for reserved seating. For information on how to reserve a seat, please click here

STEP5

On the seat type selection screen, select "[Free for elementary school age children and younger]". If you do not wish to select specific seats, please choose the number of tickets.

STEP6

If you wish to reserve a specific seat, please select "Confirm Seat."

STEP 7

Please confirm the number of tickets and the price, then tap "Proceed to Purchase".

STEP8

Please select your preferred payment and delivery methods, then follow the on-screen instructions to provide the necessary information for each payment method.

STEP 9

Please review the content, check the box, and tap "Confirm Purchase." *Your purchase is complete when the "Purchase Complete" screen appears.

If you wish to watch from a wheelchair accessible seat

STEP1

Access Shikatike and select the match you wish to attend.

STEP2

From the seat type list, select "Wheelchair."

STEP3

Select your membership tier.
Note: General public should select General Sale.

STEP4

Please indicate the number of tickets required for "Wheelchair Users (Elementary School Age or Younger)".
*Only one attendant is allowed to accompany the user and does not require a ticket. If an adult wheelchair seat is needed, please include it in the number of tickets required.

STEP 5

After confirming the number of tickets, select "Proceed to purchase." Then, select your ticket delivery method (QR only) and payment method to complete your purchase.
*Your purchase is complete when the purchase completion screen is displayed.
When you arrive, display the QR ticket for the relevant match from the Kashitike menu button and hold it over the dedicated terminal at the gate.

To make your game-watching experience with children more enjoyable

Match-viewing information for families with children

Notes

*For each match, the number of seats available for the target seating type is limited. If the capacity is reached, you will not be able to watch the match from that seating type. We appreciate your understanding.
*The target seating type may change depending on the match.
*A separate system usage fee will be incurred for matches held on weekdays.
・A J.LEAGUE ID is required to obtain tickets.
・Resale of these free tickets is strictly prohibited. If resale is confirmed, the tickets will be invalidated.
・If unauthorized acquisition of tickets is confirmed, in addition to invalidating the relevant tickets, we may suspend SÓCIO/Fan Club membership or restrict account usage.

Regarding the "Hometown Kids Pass"

The "Hometown Kids Pass," which was offered to elementary school students in the five hometown cities and Antlers Academy school students (elementary school age), has been integrated into this program starting from the 2024 season.

※ Please note that the "Hometown Kids Pass" IC card cannot be used to enter the stadium. You will need to obtain a ticket for each match.
※ There is no need to return your existing IC card.

About the integration

・"Free Admission for Elementary School Children at All Games" for the 2024 and 2025 seasons has been renamed "Free Admission for Elementary School Children at All Games by Mercari."
・"Ibaraki Kids Special Days," a special invitation program for elementary school children in the prefecture, which was co-hosted with Ibaraki Prefecture, has been integrated into this initiative starting from the 2024 season.