GAMBA OSAKA Youth will be participating in the 13th Olympia Future Cup, hosted by AFC Ajax (hereinafter Ajax), with whom we have a football strategic partnership, from Saturday, April 19th to Sunday, April 20th.
This tournament will see participation from top European clubs such as Ajax, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Athletic Club, and Anderlecht.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Ajax Academy facility, De Toekomst, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Teams will be divided into two groups and compete in the group stage (see below), with the top two teams advancing to the next round in a elimination format.
During the tournament, while following the FIFA rules, the tournament will adopt its own rules to speed up the game and allow more players to play, such as kick-ins instead of throw-ins and removing the limit on the number of substitutions for field players. VAR will also be used on the main pitch, and matches will be conducted under the same strict judgment as for the top teams.

We will contact you regarding the distribution of match footage as soon as the details are decided.

■Comment from Hiroshi MATSUDA, football director
"This tournament, hosted by Ajax, is one of the leading showcases for talent in European football, and is also known for its unique rules. It encourages speedy game progression, with free substitutions while the ball is in play and restarting the game with a dribble in, and requires players to recognize and make quick decisions, making it a tournament that reflects Ajax's development philosophy. It will be exciting to see how Gamba's U-17 players will fare against top European opponents. We hope that the coaches will also share their knowledge and deepen their interactions through opportunities such as joint game analysis, and use this as an opportunity to brush up on the "Gamba way" together with the players."


■About the GAMBA OSAKA x AFC Ajax Football Strategic Partnership
https://www.gamba-osaka.net/english/news/index/no/16236/