J.LEAGUE has decided to establish the "U-21 J.LEAGUE" (tentative name), a new competition primarily for players aged 21 and under, with the aim of developing and strengthening players in the post-youth (ages 19 to 21) and surrounding age groups. The competition is scheduled to begin in the 2026/27 season and will comprise two leagues, East and West, with a total of 11 clubs participating.
■ Purpose and Background of the U-21 J.LEAGUE
In Japanese football, players up to the age of 18 have regular opportunities to play through J.Youth and high school football. From the age of 19 onwards (after graduating from high school), however, players have limited options, such as moving on to university football or entering the professional leagues, making it difficult to secure an appropriate playing environment.
J.LEAGUE has therefore decided to establish the U-21 J.LEAGUE to provide players aged 19 to 21 — a crucial period for maximising their potential as professional players — with an appropriate playing environment, including "opportunities to play full 90-minute matches throughout the year," a "match → rest → training → match cycle," and "serious competition in matches with spectators," thereby maximising the potential of Japanese football as a whole.
■ Participating Clubs (11 Clubs)
Urawa Reds / FC Tokyo / Tokyo Verdy / Kawasaki Frontale / Shimizu S-Pulse / Jubilo Iwata / Nagoya Grampus / Gamba Osaka / Vissel Kobe / Fagiano Okayama / V-Varen Nagasaki
■ Competition Structure (as of 27 May 2025 / subject to change)
(1) Overview
・Name: U-21 J.LEAGUE (tentative name)
・Matches will be held with spectators, with all matches streamed online.
・Various less restrictive measures regarding player age, match venues, etc. will be introduced until around the 2027/28 season.
(2) Competition Period
・The competition will begin in the 2026/27 season.
・It will start around August or September and conclude around April.
・Matches will generally be played between Saturday and Monday.
(3) Competition Format
・Two leagues: East and West
・Teams will play home and away within their respective league (two matches), plus one home or away match against a team from the other league.
・The top teams in each league will advance to the Play-offs.
(4) Competition Regulations
・Matchday squad: Maximum of 18 players (maximum of seven substitutions)
・Foreign players: Maximum of three (however, players who are nationals of J.League Partner Nations will not count as foreign players, in line with the rules for top teams).
・Head coach licence: JFA A-General Coaching Licence is required.
・Over-age (OA):
-Two categories will be established: OA players with no age restriction and U-23 OA players aged 22 or 23.
-The target is a maximum of three OA players plus three U-23 OA players by the third season (2028/29).
-The following standards will apply in the inaugural 2026/27 season:
Recommended standard: Maximum of three OA players plus four U-24 OA players (clubs should aim to build their squads in accordance with this standard).
Mandatory standard: Maximum of six OA players plus four U-24 OA players.
※If a team does not meet the recommended standard for a match, it must name at least four U-21 players in the starting line-up.
(5) Match Venues
For the 2026/27 season, all of the following will be recommended standards rather than mandatory requirements.
-Natural grass or hybrid grass approved by J.LEAGUE
-Appropriate dressing rooms and facilities for treatment by team doctors
-Matches held with spectators (main and back stands are desirable)
-Facilities allowing broadcast cameras to be installed in appropriate positions
-Facilities allowing partner advertising boards to be installed in appropriate positions
※If these standards cannot be met, prior approval must be obtained from the Executive Committee (tentative name), comprising the participating clubs, based on whether the competition can fulfil its objectives.
■ Comment from J.LEAGUE Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura
"We have decided to launch the U-21 J.LEAGUE in the 2026/27 season. The post-youth years are an extremely important period in laying the foundations for a player's career as a footballer. Providing players with regular opportunities to play during this period is essential to maximising their potential. In Japan, university football provides an important development pathway, while J.Clubs have also used loan transfers to give young players opportunities to play. These pathways will remain important. At the same time, however, there is a need for an additional environment in which clubs can provide regular playing opportunities while consistently managing the development of their players. The U-21 J.LEAGUE is an initiative designed to address this need. We hope the league will provide a platform for players aged 19 to 21 to develop, while also giving promising players aged 18 and under, including those at high-school age, an opportunity to showcase their talent. We will continue our efforts towards the further development of J.LEAGUE and Japanese football."
