FIFA President thanks Tsuneyasu Miyamoto for his dedication, vision and support in expanding opportunities for the next generation
Mr Miyamoto captained Japan in two editions of the FIFA World Cup™ and led them to the AFC Asian Cup title in 2004
FIFA Forward Programme has funded Japan’s U-15 and U-18 leagues for the past 10 years
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has thanked Japan Football Association (JFA) President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto for his vision and support in expanding opportunities for the next generation of players during a meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
“It was a great pleasure to meet Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto in Tokyo to discuss our continued cooperation and the growth of football in Japan,” the FIFA President said of the ex-international who is now leading football in the Asian nation.
Elected in March 2024, Mr Miyamoto is a former captain of the Japan national team, leading them in both the 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup™ and to the AFC Asian Cup title in 2004. He has also coached J1 League club Gamba Osaka and is a graduate of the FIFA Master course, a sports management education programme that develops world-class administrators.
“As an AFC Asian Cup-winning captain who led his national team at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto understands the football landscape thoroughly and is spearheading Japan’s commitment to excellence and youth development across all levels of our game,” Mr Infantino said. “My sincere thanks to President Miyamoto and everyone at the JFA for their dedication, vision and fantastic support as we work together to further expand opportunities for the next generation.”
The JFA has worked closely with FIFA to develop football in the country, focusing on young players. Funding from the FIFA Forward Programme has supported Japan’s U-15 and U-18 national youth leagues since the programme’s inception in 2016. Ten players who were involved in Japan’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ came through these FIFA Forward-supported pathways.
The FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is also helping the JFA uncover new talents. The TDS has supported an AI-driven motion-capture application for analysing running technique, identifying high-risk movements and supporting injury prevention as well as European study visits, enabling elite youth coaches to observe higher-intensity training and competition environments.