Gyochi Gakuen Sponsors Japan’s SaintFoot at Brazil’s GO CUP 2026, as U12 Team Reaches Gold League for First Time in Japanese History

Gyochi Gakuen Co., Ltd., which operates preparatory schools for Chinese students and provides Japanese-language education support for foreign children, sponsored Japan’s representative team SaintFoot at GO CUP 2026, one of the world’s largest international junior football tournaments, held in Brazil in April 2026. At the tournament, SaintFoot’s U12 team became the first Japanese side in history to advance to the top-tier Gold League, marking a major achievement. The company supported the players’ travel and domestic selection process by placing its logo on the chest area of the team uniform, with the aim of helping children develop a global perspective through overseas challenges. GO CUP is one of the world’s largest junior football tournaments, held annually in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. The 2026 tournament ran from March 29 to April 4 and brought together 350 teams and more than 4,000 players from over 20 countries. The event is regarded as one of the highest-level stages for junior football and attracts attention from scouts of major South American clubs such as Santos and Gremio, as well as leading European clubs. Gyochi Gakuen has consistently supported cross-border challenges, including helping Chinese students pursue education in Japan and acting as a bridge for children who hope to study football in Japan. As more foreign children come to Japan with their families, the company has also focused on building learning foundations through Japanese-language education so that these children can expand their opportunities in Japanese society. The company said the experience of children connecting and improving together through sport, even without a shared language, aligns deeply with its philosophy of connecting the world through education. To ensure that children would not have to give up the valuable opportunity of a Brazil expedition for financial reasons, Gyochi Gakuen supported travel costs and the organization of domestic selections. At the tournament venue, which featured 44 pitches, SaintFoot’s U12 team finished second in the preliminary league, advanced to the Gold League, and placed fourth overall. It was the first time a Japanese team reached the highest-tier Gold League, composed only of top preliminary-round teams. The U12 side competed on equal terms or better against strong Brazilian opponents. The U11 team finished fifth in the preliminary league and placed third in the Bronze Tournament after reaching the semifinals. Beyond the matches, the players actively interacted with children from other countries during lunch and break times. These meaningful exchanges, which crossed language barriers and fostered mutual respect, helped develop their global awareness even more than victories on the pitch. Gyochi Gakuen’s representative director said that seeing children compete and grow together with peers from around the world beyond language barriers was exactly the kind of global exchange the company aspires to support. The confidence and experience gained during this expedition will become a valuable asset no matter what paths the children take in the future. The company will continue to support the overseas activities of the next generation and diverse cultural exchange through both learning support and sports support. Before sponsoring GO CUP 2026, Gyochi Gakuen also sponsored the second YTK CUP, a junior football tournament organized by the YTK Sports Promotion Foundation, in February 2026, continuing its support from the previous year. Going forward, the company plans to extend the strength it has cultivated in supporting educational challenges into the field of sports, continuously creating opportunities for children in Japan and abroad to pursue their dreams and encounter diverse values.