J.League has announced the competition overview for the 2026/27 J YOUTH CUP 33rd J.LEAGUE Youth Championship, as outlined below.
As with the 2025 competition, the tournament will consist of three rounds: the 1st Round, 2nd Round and Knockout Round. A total of 64 teams will take part: 58 teams from J1, J2 and J3*, Azul Claro Numazu U18, whose senior team competed in J3 in the 2025 season, and the top five teams from the 9th Japan Club Youth Football (U-18) Town Club CUP 2025 — Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth, Y.S.C.C. Yokohama U-18, Esperanza SC Youth, VEROSKRONOS TSUNO U-18 and Chiba SC U-18.
Under the new format, the 2nd Round will also be played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each of the eight groups in the upper tier (Groups A–H), for a total of 16 teams, will advance to the Knockout Round. Throughout the competition, important match opportunities and a platform for players to perform will be provided with the aim of developing top-level talent.
Further details are available on the tournament special page:
https://www.jleague.jp/special/jyouth/2026-27/
*The 58 teams exclude Reilac Shiga FC and Kochi United SC, which do not have teams in the U-18 (high-school age) category.
2026/27 J YOUTH CUP 33rd J.LEAGUE Youth Championship – Competition Overview
■ Competition Name
2026/27 J YOUTH CUP 33rd J.LEAGUE Youth Championship
■ Organisers
Japan Football Association / Japan Professional Football League
■ Co-organiser
Japan Club Youth Football Federation
■ Sponsors
TENTIAL Inc. / KAMO Trading Co., Ltd. / BASE FOOD, Inc. / Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. / IC CO., LTD. / MIKASA CORPORATION / feileB Co.Ltd
■ Participating Teams
A total of 64 teams: 58 teams from J1, J2 and J3; Azul Claro Numazu U18, whose senior team competed in J3 in the 2025 season; and the top five teams from the 9th Japan Club Youth Football (U-18) Town Club CUP 2025 (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth, Y.S.C.C. Yokohama U-18, Esperanza SC Youth, VEROSKRONOS TSUNO U-18 and Chiba SC U-18).
■ Competition Period (Scheduled)
Friday 2 October 2026 – Sunday 13 June 2027
1st Round (Group Stage): Friday 2 October – Thursday 31 December 2026
2nd Round (Group Stage): Saturday 30 January – Sunday 30 May 2027
Knockout Round: Saturday 5 June – Sunday 13 June 2027
*Dates are subject to change.
*Dates for the 1st and 2nd Rounds will be determined through coordination between the participating teams.
■ Match Venues
1st Round and 2nd Round: Home grounds of participating teams and other venues.
Knockout Round: All matches will be held at centralised venues.
■ Eligible Players
In principle, players must meet one of the following criteria and have completed both JFA player registration and registration for this competition in advance.
1. Players registered with a participating team who are aged 16 or under as of 1 April 2027.
2. Over-age players: Players registered with a participating team who are aged 17 or under as of 1 April 2027 and are not covered by (1) above (maximum of three outfield players and one goalkeeper).
3. Players confirmed to join: Players whose future signing with a participating team has been confirmed and approved by J.League (maximum of two players).
■ Competition Format
＜1st Round＞
The 64 teams will be divided into 16 groups of four and play a single round-robin within each group (three matches per team).
【1st Round Groups】
＜2nd Round＞
The top two teams from each group in the 1st Round will advance to the upper tier (Groups A–H), while the bottom two teams will enter the lower tier (Groups I–P). Each group will play a single round-robin (three matches per team).
【2nd Round Groups】
＜Knockout Round＞
The top two teams from each of the eight upper-tier groups in the 2nd Round, for a total of 16 teams, will advance to a single-elimination tournament comprising the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and final.
The pairings for the Knockout Round will be determined by an open draw conducted by J.League following the conclusion of the 2nd Round.
■ Match Rules
＜1st Round and 2nd Round＞
Matches will be played over 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves). If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, the match will end in a draw.
Once all group matches have been completed, teams will be ranked by points (three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat). If two or more teams are level on points, their rankings will be determined in the following order:
1. Goal difference
2. Goals scored
3. Head-to-head record among the teams concerned:
(1) points, (2) goal difference, (3) goals scored
4. Total playing time of players registered in JFA Category 3
5. Drawing of lots
*Criteria 1 to 4 will be based on results from the relevant round.
＜Knockout Round＞
Matches will be played over 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves). If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, the winner will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
■ Match Schedule
The match schedule will be announced on the J.League official website's tournament special page as details are confirmed.
Tournament Special Page:
https://www.jleague.jp/special/jyouth/2026-27/
