2026 Season Kicks Off! Rookie League U-16 National 9 Areas

April 8, 2026

Key facts

2026 Season Kicks Off! Rookie League U-16 National 9 Areas
The Rookie League U-16, now in its eighth year, provides a nationwide league for first-year high school students across nine areas of Japan. Teams compete in regional leagues, with winners advancing to the MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League in December to determine the national champion. The league aims to foster youth soccer talent and contribute to the overall advancement of Japanese football.
Source: PR Times
Date: April 8, 2026

Direct answer

The Rookie League U-16, now in its eighth year, provides a nationwide league for first-year high school students across nine areas of Japan. Teams compete in regional leagues, with winners advancing to the MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League in December to determine the national champion. The league aims to foster youth soccer talent and contribute to the overall advancement of Japanese football.

Citation: 2026 Season Kicks Off! Rookie League U-16 National 9 Areas (April 8, 2026), PR Times
Source: PR Times
Date: April 8, 2026

The Rookie League U-16, now in its eighth year, provides a nationwide league for first-year high school students across nine areas of Japan. Teams compete in regional leagues, with winners advancing to the MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League in December to determine the national champion. The league aims to foster youth soccer talent and contribute to the overall advancement of Japanese football.

eventNQ 100/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 18:00
🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 09:01
🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 12:44 (243h 42m after Collected)

What is Rookie League U-16?

First-year high school students immediately after entering high school compete in a year-round league with their new teams.

League matches are held in each area: "Hokkaido", "Tohoku", "Hokushinetsu", "Kanto", "Tokai", "Kansai", "Shikoku", "Chugoku", and "Kyushu/Okinawa". Teams that win their league advance to the "MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League" held in December, where the annual national Rookie League champion is decided.

All regional Rookie Leagues were established in 2018, making the 2026 season its eighth year. The operation of each regional Rookie League tournament is managed independently by the participating teams, and with the cooperation of each team, they are working together to make it a success.

It's a captivating private league where teams that resonate with the idea of providing a serious competition platform for first-year students gather, and intense matches are played across the country.

We aim to contribute to the overall improvement of Japanese football through strengthening youth development in soccer.

Riseisha High School Football Club, winner of the 2025 MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League (National Tournament)

Official Website is Full of Information! Flash Reports After Every Weekend Match!

Information on participating teams, player details, and flash reports of results will be posted on the official websites of each area league and the national tournament.

【Official Website】

MIZUNO CHAMPIONSHIP U-16 Rookie League (National Tournament)

https://rookie-league.com/

Rookie League U-16 HOKKAIDO

https://u16-rookie-league.com/hokkaido

Tohoku U-16 Rookie League

https://u16-rookie-league.com/tohoku

Hokushinetsu U-16 Rookie League

https://u16-rookie-league.com/hokushinetsu

Kanto ROOKIE LEAGUE U-16

https://u16-rookie-league.com/kanto

Tokai Rookie League U-16 ~create the future~