Announcement of Official Partnership Agreement for MVV Maastricht Cup Tournament with Mizuno Corporation

Deshima Football (Netherlands, Representative Director: Takao Rishige, English Name: Deshima Football Consultancy) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Diamond Partnership agreement with Mizuno Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Mizuno) to become the top-tier official partner for the youth international tournament "MVV Maastricht Cup," targeting U17 and U18 players.

The "MVV Maastricht Cup," a youth international tournament to be held on August 15-16, 2026, in Maastricht, Netherlands, is an elite-level competition held in cooperation with MVV Maastricht, in which Deshima Football is a co-owner. U18 youth teams from Europe and the national select team for the U17 generation, "Japan Evolving NextGen," from Japan will participate.

Under the philosophy of Deshima Football, "Fostering Future Football Talent," this tournament aims to provide promising U17 players, who are on the verge of becoming professionals, with opportunities for serious competition against their European peers and international experience. Mizuno has endorsed this philosophy, and by leveraging Mizuno's expertise and strengths, which has a network of high school and J-youth teams across the country through its soccer brand business, we will implement initiatives that can only be achieved through the cooperation and collaboration of both parties.

For this tournament, Deshima Football and Mizuno will jointly produce the select team for Japan's U17 generation, "Japan Evolving NextGen," cooperate in its promotion in Japan, provide original uniforms, and plan activations on the day of the tournament.

[Original Uniform for "Japan Evolving NextGen"]

This uniform was created with the concept "SHAPED BY CHALLENGE.". The design was handled by artist/illustrator FACE. With his unique perspective, which spans across the art scene, he expresses the image of Japanese youth challenging the world.

The graphic motif is inspired by the bark of Japanese pine trees. The vitality of pine trees that live strongly even in harsh environments, and the unique grain of each tree, express the individuality and growth trajectory of each player.

Furthermore, by adopting a dark tone, which is rare for high school-aged teams in Japan, it expresses the aspiration towards top clubs and national teams worldwide, and the exhilaration of challenging the world.

<About FACE>

An artist/illustrator born in Tama City, Tokyo. He has a Taiwanese father and a Japanese mother. He is based in Tokyo.

His work is characterized by humorous character expressions composed solely of eyes and mouths, drawn with simple lines and vivid colors. He creates works across diverse media, including illustrations, paintings, and three-dimensional pieces.

He has collaborated with domestic and international brands and cultural projects such as New Balance, adidas, Stüssy, BEAMS, HUMAN MADE, Isetan, Sesame Street, Netflix, and Summer Sonic, and has been active in a wide range of fields including fashion, music, and entertainment.

His works have been exhibited both domestically and internationally, including at Gallery Target in Tokyo and in Hong Kong. In recent years, he has been developing the puppet project "The Kidding Heads" with original characters. Through puppet works where characters converse and create stories, he explores new possibilities in artistic expression.

<About Mizuno>

Mizuno Corporation is a leading comprehensive sports equipment manufacturer in Japan, founded in 1806. With the management philosophy of "Contributing to society through the provision of better sports products and the promotion of sports," it boasts a high market share both domestically and internationally. The company develops apparel, shoes, and equipment for a wide range of sports, including baseball, golf, soccer, and track and field. Its strengths lie in its advanced technological capabilities and quality that support everyone from top athletes to ordinary people. In recent years, it has expanded its scope to the work business and health and medical fields, utilizing the knowledge gained from sports.

Mizuno Corporation HP: https://corp.mizuno.com/jp

<MVV Maastricht Cup Tournament Information>

Tournament Name: MVV Maastricht Cup

Organizer: Deshima Football (Official Name: Deshima Football Consultancy B.V.)

Dates: August 15 (Sat) and 16 (Sun), 2026 (Scheduled)

Venue:

August 15 (Sat), 2026: Maastricht Sportspark West

August 16 (Sun), 2026: Stadion Guesselt

Age Group:

Born in 2009 or later

High school 2nd year / U17 generation or later in Japan

U18 generation or later in Europe

Number of Participating Clubs: 8 clubs

Official Website: https://football-hub-tournament.com

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvvmaastrichtcup

Official X: https://x.com/mvvcup

<About the Japan Evolving NextGen Project>

This project is a U17 national select team formed as the "next step" for promising young talents from high schools and youth teams across Japan. The team name embodies the wish for Japan's young talents to achieve further "growth" and "leap forward" (Evolving) on European soil, and to fly out to the world as the next generation (NextGen) who will lead the future of Japanese soccer.

Member announcement scheduled for July 2026.

Press Release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000006.000160013.html

<About Deshima Football (DFC)>

A company based in the Netherlands that is building a new European base for football talent development. It is composed of professional members with expertise in both business and football, not only in Japan but also internationally. Starting in April 2025, the company will acquire shares in MVV Maastricht, a club in the Dutch Eerste Divisie (equivalent to the second division league), and begin full-scale operations. It will promote the creation of international businesses that bridge Japan and the Netherlands, focusing on the sound management of clubs, contributions to the local community, and the 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 Information

Email: info@deshimafc.com