Japan Men's Australian Football Team Opens Recruitment for 2026 East Asia Cup Hong Kong

The Japan Australian Football Association (JAFL) has opened recruitment for the men's national team to compete at the '2026 East Asia Cup Hong Kong,' the first East Asian international Australian football tournament, scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2026 in Hong Kong. The three-nation event will feature Japan, China, and Hong Kong, and is officially backed by AFL Asia under the AFL Asia Grants Program. Selection will proceed in two stages: performance in the domestic A.LEAGUE (May-December 2026) and national team selection trials. JAFL is seeking approximately 12-18 players and a small number of staff. Eligibility requires Japanese nationality and primary residence in Japan between ages 10 and 16; no Australian football experience is necessary. Players converting from soccer, rugby, or baseball are welcome. The national team traces its roots to 1990, when university teams merged to form the 'Student Samurais.' The team has competed in six consecutive AFL International Cups from 2002 to 2017 and won the inaugural AFL Asia Cup in 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, going undefeated in all six matches. Head Coach is Brett Qualtrough; Director is Hiroki Tabuchi. Apply via jafl.org/SAMURAIS or @samurais_jafl on Instagram.