The television anime series The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Semifinal continues its international tournament narrative as official channels release the first-episode synopsis and preview cuts for the upcoming sequel, The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Selection Match. Scheduled to premiere on September 30, 2026, across TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, and TV Aichi, the new instalment shifts the focus from the grueling international semifinals to an intense internal roster battle within the Japanese national team.
Internal Selection Battle Arrives Before the Spanish Final
Following a hard-fought victory over the reigning world power, Germany, the Japanese U-17 national team secured its place in the tournament’s final match against Spain. However, key pillars of the squad—Byōdōin and Oni—are sidelined due to severe injuries sustained during the German fixture, leaving their availability for the championship match impossible. With only two days remaining before facing Spain, head coach Mifune has instituted a high-stakes internal tournament to determine the final starting lineup.
Under the tournament’s new format, players will compete across five specific blocks: Singles 1 (S1), Singles 2 (S2), Singles 3 (S3), Doubles 1 (D1), and Doubles 2 (D2). Only the athletes who survive this internal elimination process will earn the right to represent Japan on the pitch against Spain, pitting former teammates against one another in a bid for the remaining tournament slots.
Broadcast Schedule and Production Details
The premiere of The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Selection Match is locked in for Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Regional broadcast windows for the opening episode feature late-night time slots across multiple networks, beginning with TV Tokyo at 24:00, followed by TV Aichi at 25:30, and TV Osaka at 25:35.
Animation production is handled by M.S.C, with direction by Yoshinobu Tokumoto. The series composition is managed by Mitsutaka Hirota, while Akiharu Ishii serves as character designer and chief animation director. Musical contributions include the opening theme “Walls And Bridges” performed by Aozu (composed and written by UZA, arranged by Yasunari Nakamura), and the ending theme “Kin-kan-shoku phenomenal” performed by Keigo Atobe and Yushi Oshitari (written by Nagae Kuwahara, with music and arrangement by Yosuke Kurokawa).
Confirmed Voice Cast and Character Lineup
The returning voice cast features Junko Minagawa as Ryoma Echizen, Yuki Kaida as Fusuke Fuji, Junichi Suwabe as Keigo Atobe, and Kiuchi Hidenobu as Yushi Oshitari.
Tournament Context and Historical Progression
The upcoming selection arc follows the broadcast of The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Semifinal in 2024, which chronicled the fierce clashes between the Japanese and German squads. Based on the manga series by Takeshi Konomi published in Shueisha’s Jump Square, the animated franchise has steadily expanded its scope since the original television series debuted in October 2001, moving from regional middle school tournaments to national championships and ultimately the international U-17 World Cup circuit.
Worth a look
