The Bitter Reason Why Japanese Teams Have Become the "Public Enemy," and the Korea-Japan Football Gap Felt from the Youth Level [Incheon On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I want to beat Kashiwa Reysol (Japan)."

Lee Seong-hyeon, manager of the Ulsan HD Under-18 (U18) team, said with emphasis. He was answering a question from reporters at the pre-tournament press conference for K League International Youth Cup Incheon 2026, held on the 23rd at Harbor Park Hotel in Jemulpo-gu, Incheon, when asked to name a team they particularly wanted to face or beat.

It was not just Manager Lee Seong-hyeon. Lee Sung-gyu, manager of the Incheon United U18 team, said, "I look forward to the match against Kashiwa Reysol. While there are many other teams, Japan has its own unique impact in the football world." Park Yo-han, manager of the Gwangju FC U18 team, added, "Personally, I am looking forward to seeing what kind of performance Kashiwa Reysol will show this year," while Yoon Si-ho, manager of the FC Seoul U18 team, and Kim Seong-cheol, head coach of Incheon High School, also picked Kashiwa Reysol.

This tournament is an international football competition for U17 players featuring six domestic teams and six overseas teams. The overseas participants include Kashiwa Reysol, Union Adarve and Racing Santander from Spain, FC Midtjylland from Denmark, Sydney FC from Australia, and PVF Football Academy from Vietnam. Half of the six overseas teams are European clubs, yet a whopping five of the six domestic team managers had their eyes set on the Japanese side, Kashiwa Reysol.

Behind this lies not the special nature of Korea-Japan matches, but a bitter Korea-Japan football gap that is felt on-site from the youth level. It means they are feeling on the ground that they are already falling behind Japanese football at the youth stage, going beyond the widening gap at the senior national team level. In last year's final of this tournament, another Japanese team, Gamba Osaka, defeated Gwangju to claim the title. Park Yo-han, manager of the Gwangju U18 team, who led the team as head coach in that final, reflected, "At the time, Gamba Osaka had third-year middle school students playing key roles, and coldly speaking, we were outmatched in terms of performance. That was the reality. I took away a lot from it."

Other managers also effectively acknowledged the Korea-Japan football gap at the youth level. Lee Seong-hyeon, manager of the Ulsan U18 team, said, "When I see it on-site, I think we are far behind Japan," adding, "It is not about flashy play; we fall behind in the basics." Lee Sung-gyu, manager of the Incheon U18 team, also stated, "Our team is also pondering what the impact of Japanese football is and where our differences lie."

However, they do not intend to merely feel the Korea-Japan gap through a match against Kashiwa Reysol. The focus is more on having the players directly engage on the pitch, gain experience, and simultaneously strive to overcome that gap. The process of gaining direct experience and working to bridge the difference holds significance in itself. It is also the true value of the K League International Youth Cup, an international tournament featuring young players under 17.

Lee Sung-gyu, manager of the Incheon U18 team, said, "I want to directly experience how big the gap will be when we play against a Japanese team," and vowed, "In this tournament, we will showcase the football we aim to play while striving for results through that process." Lee Seong-hyeon, manager of the Ulsan U18 team, emphasized, "This tournament can serve as an opportunity to identify problems through experience. I believe Korean football can develop under high intensity only if we see aggressive defending and progressive dribbling and passing, rather than just playing not to lose. I also want to narrow the gap with Japanese teams. (I) definitely want to beat Kashiwa Reysol."

Takeshi Watanabe, Academy Director of Kashiwa Reysol, who has effectively been named the "public enemy" by domestic teams, said, "We are participating in this tournament for the growth and development of our players. Two years ago as well, our players grew a lot and realized many things." He continued, "Two years ago, there were also many impressive teams from Korea. They were good in terms of physicality, speed, and fighting spirit. This year, I am curious to see what kind of play the Korean teams will show and what kind of players they have," expressing his anticipation.

Now in its fourth edition, this tournament is hosted by the Korea Professional Football League and the Incheon City Football Association, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, and Incheon City. It will be held from the 24th to the 30th at Namdong Asia Rugby Stadium, Incheon Asia Auxiliary Stadium, and Songdo LNG Comprehensive Sports Town Soccer Field in Incheon. Group A consists of Union Adarve, Midtjylland, Kashiwa Reysol, Seoul, Ulsan, and Incheon High School, while Group B includes Racing Santander, Sydney, PVF Football Academy, Pohang, Gwangju, and Incheon. The group stage will be played with two 35-minute halves to determine the winners, and the top teams from each group will face off in the final to crown the champion. The final is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the 30th at Namdong Rugby Stadium.

The League, which has been continuously promoting international exchanges to enhance the international competitiveness of K League youth, has been holding this tournament for four consecutive years since 2023. The League stated, "By expanding and continuously operating this tournament going forward, K League youth clubs will be able to increase their contact with advanced overseas leagues," adding, "We also expect it to help secure an international exchange network and international competitiveness for K League club front offices and coaching staff."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original