The 2024 J.Youth Cup (Japanese: 2024Jユースカップ) is the 30th edition of the contested tournament for Japan youth clubs affiliated with both J.League and Japan Club Youth Football Federation. It marked the end of the four-year break motivated by the COVID-19 outbreak between the current and the last edition of the tournament, which was last held on 2019.
Outline All 60 J.League clubs' youth academies and 4 youth clubs participates in the tournament.
For each match, 18 players (16 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers) can be selected. Similarly to the Olympic Games, the tournament uses an overage-players rule, with third-grade high schoolers having its participation restricted. About the first graders, only 3 outfield players and a goalkeeper can be selected to play each match. The main reason for the rule is that, according to the J.League, the tournament mainly targets under-15 to under-17 players.
The tournament consists of three rounds. In the first round, the teams are split in 16 groups with 4 teams each. In the second round, the teams are divided by performance. The two best-placed teams in each group joins the upper league, while the two worst-placed teams joins the lower league. Both leagues have its teams split into 8 groups of 4 teams each. Each upper league group winner qualifies for the knockout stage, which starts in the quarter-finals. Its pairings will be determined by a draw, held after the completion of the second round.
Calendar
Round Date 1st round 23 March–9 June 2024 2nd round 15 June–27 October 2024 Quarter-finals 3–4 November 2024 Semi-finals 9 November 2024 Final 17 November 2024
Venues Round Venue Location1st round Various; Home teams' stadiums2nd roundQuarter-finals J-Village Stadium Iwaki, FukushimaSemi-finals AGF Field Chofu, TokyoFinal Yodoko Sakura Stadium Osaka, Osaka
First round Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group K
Group L
Group M
Group N
Group O
Group P
References