U17 Generation Teams Selected from Across Japan to Participate! Announcement of the 'MVV Maastricht Cup' International Youth Tournament to be Held in Maastricht, Netherlands

Deshima Football Consultancy (Netherlands, Representative Director: Takao Rishige, English name: Deshima Football Consultancy), co-owner of MVV Maastricht, which belongs to the Eerste Divisie (equivalent to the second division of the Dutch football league), will collaborate with MVV Maastricht to host the inaugural 'MVV Maastricht Cup' International Youth Tournament in Maastricht, Netherlands. This elite-level tournament will feature U18 youth teams from Europe and selected U17 teams from Japan.

Deshima Football was established in October 2024 in the Netherlands as a company building new European bases for football talent development. It consists of professional members highly knowledgeable in both business and football, not only in Japan but also internationally. As part of the 'MVV Maastricht Football HUB,' an international football business promoting Deshima Football's vision of 'fostering future football talent,' we will host the 'MVV Maastricht Cup' international tournament to provide young players with opportunities to gain international experience in Europe.

Maastricht is located at the border of Belgium and Germany, offering excellent accessibility from neighboring countries. Furthermore, Maastricht, a Dutch city with a deeply rooted football culture, boasts well-maintained football and sports facilities within the city. Utilizing this football infrastructure and the history and culture of football, Maastricht City and MVV Maastricht aim to become a **HUB** for football talent development.

**Objectives of this tournament:**
- Provide young players on the verge of becoming professionals with opportunities to gain international experience.
- Offer international scouting opportunities for clubs.
- Create a global business that bridges Japan and Europe through football.

**Tournament Information:**
Tournament Name: MVV Maastricht Cup
Organizer: Deshima Football (Official Name: Deshima Football Consultancy B.V.)
Hosting Partner: MVV Maastricht
Dates: Saturday, August 15th, and Sunday, August 16th, 2026
Venue:
- Saturday, August 15th, 2026: Maastricht Sportspark West
- Sunday, August 16th, 2026: Stadion Guesselt
Participating Age Groups: Born in 2009 or later
- U17 age group and older in Japan (equivalent to second-year high school students)
- U18 age group and older in Europe
Number of Participating Clubs: 8 clubs

**Tournament Format:**
- This tournament emphasizes providing a suitable playing environment for youth development and will be conducted as follows:
- Divided into two groups, A and B, with a round-robin preliminary round held on the first day.
- On the second day, knockout-style finals and ranking tournaments will be held between the top two teams and the bottom two teams from each group.
- Each match will be 30 minutes long. A total of 32 matches are scheduled.
- In the preliminary round, there will be no extra time or penalty kicks for draws.
- In the finals and ranking tournaments, draws will be decided by penalty kicks without extra time.

**Participating Teams:**
1. U17 Selected Team *1
2. Villarreal CF
3. AZ Alkmaar
4. FC Utrecht
5. Antwerp FC
6. NEC Nijmegen
7. STVV
8. MVV Maastricht

*1: This targets the age group that will be 17 years old in 2026, equivalent to second-year high school students in Japan. It is planned to be selected from high school and club youth teams nationwide. The team name, logo, and composition will be announced later.

**Ticket, Broadcast, and Event Information on Tournament Days:**
- Tickets are scheduled to be sold for both Saturday, August 15th, and Sunday, August 16th *3
- Preliminary round: 12 matches on the main pitch, and all 8 matches of the final round are scheduled for streaming *4
- Event Information:
- Friday, August 14th:
- Afternoon: Football Business Conference scheduled *5
- Saturday, August 15th:
- Noon: VIP Networking Lunch
- Evening: Networking Football Tournament *6
- Evening: Networking Dinner
- Sunday, August 16th:
- Noon: VIP Networking Lunch

*3: Details will be published separately on the website.
*4: Scheduled for streaming via SNS channels. Streaming information will be published separately on the website.
*5: A conference on football business will be held with themes such as "Japanese football's overseas expansion" and "How companies expanding overseas utilize football clubs." Details will be published separately on the website.
*6: A networking football tournament for adults will be held at Stadion Guesselt. Details will be published separately on the website.

Please refer to the official tournament website and official SNS for detailed tournament information.
- Official Website (under preparation): https://football-hub-tournament.com/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvvmaastrichtcup
- Official X: https://x.com/mvvcup

**Comment from the Tournament Director:**
"I am very pleased to announce the holding of the MVV Maastricht Cup. I hope that the experience of players from different countries in Japan and Europe, gathering and striving together, will be an irreplaceable and wonderful experience for those who will lead the future of football.
Although it is the first time the tournament is held, I hope that it will continue for 5, 10 years, providing opportunities and experiences to more people, and growing into a tournament that bridges Japan and Europe."
(Akihisa Iizuka, Executive Officer, Deshima Football Netherlands)

[About MVV Maastricht Football HUB]
Under the VISION of "Through football, provide opportunities to learn globally and challenge the world, elevating Japanese football to the next level," we aim to foster future football talent through tours/camps, football business education, international tournament hosting, and support for domestic youth tournaments.
Official Website: https://football-hub.education/
Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MVVMaastrichtFootballHUB

[About MVV Maastricht]
Established in 1902, MVV Maastricht is a professional football club in Maastricht with a long history and tradition. Currently playing in the Eerste Divisie (equivalent to the second division), it also has a track record of playing for many years in the Eredivisie (equivalent to the first division). Known for its passionate supporters, the club aims for sustainable growth.
MVV Maastricht Official Website: https://www.mvv.nl/home

[About Deshima Football (DFC)]
Based in the Netherlands, it is a company building new European bases for football talent development. It consists of professional members highly knowledgeable in both business and football, not only in Japan but also internationally. In April 2025, it will acquire shares in MVV Maastricht, which belongs to the Eerste Divisie (equivalent to the second division of the Dutch football league), and begin full-scale operations. It promotes the creation of international business that bridges Japan and the Netherlands, focusing on sound club management, contribution to the local community, and development of next-generation talent.
Official Dutch Company Name: Deshima Football Consultancy BV
DFC Official LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deshima-football-consultancy
DFC Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576773654601

Contact: info@deshimafc.com