EXILE CUP 2025: Elementary Futsal Tournament in Miyagi

On Saturday, June 28th, 2025, the Tohoku tournament for elementary school students, EXILE CUP 2025, was held at Matsushima Football Center in Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture.

EXILE CUP, which has been launched in 2010 as a social contribution activity by LDH JAPAN, which is a continuous community-based coexistence activity and contribution to society, is a futsal event aimed at fourth- to sixth grade elementary school students. Okada Takeshi, former coach of the Japan national soccer team and current chairman of the FC Imabari president, participated as a tournament advisor, and has been held every year across the country as a sponsored project under the Japan Football Association, a public interest incorporated foundation (2020-2022 is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic).

In 2025, the 13th time, the qualifying tournaments were held at 10 venues in nine districts, and a total of 10 teams who won each qualifying tournament advanced to the final tournament held in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. The sixth match of the tournament, the Tohoku tournament, attracted 48 teams and 433 players to compete for a national ticket.

On the pitch, five people from EXILE/EXILE THE SECOND, who serve as LDH JAPAN’s Social Innovation Officer, and WOLF HOWL HARMONY, a four-member vocal and rap group, came in and encouraged the players. The venue was livened up by not only watching the game but also taking commemorative photos.

The tournament will be held in qualifying leagues for three teams, and a final tournament will be held by 16 teams. The final matchups were both Abbyca Yonezawa FC (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture) and Chikari Football Club (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture), who both achieved the qualifying round with overwhelming results, and Chikari, who had a strong mobility, led 2-0 until the middle of the second half, but Abbyca Yonezawa FC, who had not given up until the end, scored three goals in the final round, and won their first victory in a spectacular comeback.

The team will advance to the final tournament to be held at Asics Satoyama Stadium in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture on Sunday, September 14th, 2025.

『EXILE CUP 2025』 Northeast Conference Results

1st place: Abbyca Yonezawa FC (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)
2nd place: Senkari Football Club (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture)
3rd place: Blazing Torsida Odate FC (Odate City, Akita Prefecture)
3rd place: Vipere Hirosaki FC (Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)

Guest comments

■EXILE/EXILE THE SECOND Tachibana Kenchi
I also feel energized by seeing the children running around every time. Soccer is a sport that cannot be won by individual skills alone. If you experience the greatness of 4th, 5th and 6th graders at the age of elementary school, chasing the ball with your friends, creating a team circle, aiming to win with your friends, and working hard in groups, I’m sure you’ll live up to life in the future. I hope that the players will continue to work hard in soccer and grow. I also hope that the family and directors who support me on a daily basis will once again be grateful and do their best.

■WOLF HOWL HARMONY RYOJI
This time, I was able to go not only on the pitch but also to the up space, and had the opportunity to kick the ball with the kids. I’ve also had experience in soccer, so everyone would give me a lot of pure thoughts and ask me a lot of questions, “What kind of practice did you usually do?”, and when the game was over, they found me and asked me what I thought, “What was it?” All of the people were really powerful, and it was a wonderful day, conveying the passionate feelings that the players, coaches and staff had built up so far.

■WOLF HOWL HARMONY SUZUKI
It was a lot of fun watching every game, and the finals in particular were so amazing that it was a bit of arousing. I was watching while cheering on both teams, so I was really excited, thinking, “We’ll score a goal, and then we’ll get back next time.” It’s a sport, so there were winners and losers, but both teams were amazing. I was really moved. The winning team should do their best in the finals!

■WOLF HOWL HARMONY GHEE
In the elementary school age, for example, the 10th child overtakes individual skills to score goals, and I think there are many good players who are prominent, but all teams have team plays that break the opponent with passing and set pieces, which I think is a very high level. I was really moved by how even the elementary school age were able to properly understand the team’s coordination and express it through play. I hope you will continue to enjoy soccer like this.

■WOLF HOWL HARMONY HIROTO
It was a day that was truly amazed at the passion of everyone participating. Of course, this is true for the players, but there were lots of voices coming out during the game, such as the coach’s chants, “There’s more” and “Nice shots” from the bench. The sight of the players running towards the bench during the scoring scene reminded me once again that team sports are amazing. I would like to participate again.

『EXILE CUP 2025』 Conference Summary

[Qualifying Tournament]
・Kanto Tournament
Date: Sunday, April 13th
Location: Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
Venue: Koei Maebashi Football Center

・Kyushu Tournament 1
Date: Sunday, April 27th
Location: Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture
Venue: Okinawa Prefectural General Sports Park

・Shikoku Tournament
Date: Sunday, May 25th
Location: Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture
Venue: Pikara Stadium

・Hokushinetsu tournament
Date: Sunday, June 8th
Location: Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture
Venue: Nagano Olympic Stadium Baseball Stadium

・Tokai Tournament
Date: Sunday, June 22nd
Location: Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Venue: Gifu Memorial Center Nagaragawa Ball Game Meadow (New Japan Gas Ball Game Meadow)

・Tohoku Tournament
Date: Saturday, June 28th
Location: Miyagi District, Miyagi Prefecture
Venue: Matsushima Football Center

・China tournament
Date: Sunday, July 20th
Location: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Venue: Kannon Shinmachi Sports Square, Uchigaku Kokueikai

・Hokkaido tournament
Date: Wednesday, August 6th
Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido
Venue: Sapporo Soccer Amusement Park

・Kyushu Tournament 2
Date: Sunday, September 7th
Location: Saga City, Saga Prefecture
Venue: SAGA Stadium

・Kansai Tournament
Adjustment

[Final Tournament]
Date: Sunday, September 14th
Location: Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture
Venue: Asics Satoyama Stadium

[Participation eligible/Participation fee]
Elementary school students 4th to 6th grade / Free

[Organizer/sponsored]
LDH JAPAN/EXILE CUP Secretariat / Japan Football Association, a public interest incorporated foundation

【Formula HP】
https://www.exilecup.jp/
*For information on how to apply and other information, please check the EXILE CUP 2025 homepage.

EXILE CUP 2025: Key Tournament Data adn Insights

To further illuminate the EXILE CUP 2025,here’s a concise table summarizing some key data points and providing a comparative view of the qualifying tournaments:

| ——————– | ————– | ——————————————- | ——————- | ————————– | ————————– | ——————————————————————————————————————————————————- |

Note: Data for several tournaments,including the number of participating teams,winners,and runners-up,was not available in the original article. Gathering additional data would greatly enhance the table’s value. The table uses the [Note: Data Not Available…] notation when there’s a lack of information.

Frequently Asked questions (FAQ)

This FAQ section addresses common queries about the EXILE CUP, providing clear and concise answers:

Q: What is the EXILE CUP?

A: The EXILE CUP is an annual futsal tournament for elementary school students (grades 4-6) organized by LDH JAPAN as a social contribution initiative. It’s designed to promote community engagement and provide a platform for young soccer enthusiasts to compete.

Q: When and where was the Tohoku Tournament held in 2025?

A: The Tohoku Tournament was held on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, at the Matsushima Football Center in Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture.

Q: Who won the Tohoku Tournament in 2025?

A: Abbyca Yonezawa FC from Yonezawa city, Yamagata Prefecture, won the Tohoku Tournament in 2025.

Q: Where will the Final Tournament be held?

A: The final tournament will be held at asics Satoyama Stadium in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, on Sunday, September 14th, 2025.

Q: How can teams participate in the EXILE CUP?

A: Teams must qualify through regional qualifying tournaments. Details on how to apply and participate are available on the EXILE CUP 2025 official website [[1]].

Q: Is there a participation fee?

A: No, participation in the EXILE CUP is free for eligible elementary school students (grades 4-6).

Q: Who organizes and sponsors the EXILE CUP?

A: The EXILE CUP is organized by LDH JAPAN and the EXILE CUP Secretariat. It is indeed sponsored by the Japan Football Association, a public interest incorporated foundation.