Japan U-16 secures friendlies with 3 European nations
The Japan Football Association announced on August 18 that the U-16 national team will play friendly matches against Cyprus, Romania, and the Faroe Islands during the U-17 European Championship qualifiers in Cyprus. This was made possible through direct negotiations by JFA president Nobuhiro Miyamoto during his visit to UEFA in June 2025.
Miyamoto's strengthening strategy
Miyamoto stated, "We hope this will lead to 20- and 21-year-old players shining at the World Cup." Following Japan's elimination in the group stage at this summer's CONCACAF World Cup, where young players' emergence was lacking, the JFA secured opportunities to face European powerhouses.
Upcoming schedule
The friendly matches will take place from October 27 to November 2, parallel to the U-17 European Championship qualifiers in Cyprus. Currently, Japan sits second in the 2026 World Cup standings with 5 points (1W-2D-0L), 2 points behind leaders Netherlands. Their recent form shows 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in the last 5 matches (LDWDW).
Significance of youth development
Japan's next match is against Uruguay on September 24. Miyamoto expressed his vision for the future, saying, "We want to participate in various tournaments and strengthen our team."
