PDP Summer Recap: Japan Tour 2026

While previous summers had taken the NorCal Premier Soccer PDP girls squads to far off locations such as Sweden or England, this summer NorCal’s U16 and U17 teams headed to the Far East to take on top Japanese competition in a series of friendlies before participating in the prestigious Oshima Cup.

The experience didn’t disappoint, and neither did the results, with the U16s finishing as runners-up, while the U17 side took fourth place despite both playing in the U18 age group.

Throughout the process, both teams faced off against professional academies from some of the best clubs in the country, as well as high school clubs, which form the backbone of Japanese youth soccer development.

“Watching the girls experience Japan, which is just something entirely different, was incredible,” said NorCal Premier Soccer President and PDP Director Benjamin Ziemer. “The players and staff grew as the event went on–it was great to work with good people who are interested in the players and see everyone improve over the course of two weeks.”

The trip began in Osaka with a visit to the JFA Sakai Academy, one of the JFA’s regional training centers that annually visits California for friendly matches against NorCal’s PDP sides, as well as other local club teams.

From there, both girls teams engaged in a series of friendlies, with matches against Ohtemon High School, Tezukayama College, and famous professional club Urawa Reds.

Additionally, the 36 youth players were able to take in a J League game between the Yokohama Marinos and Kashima Antlers, played at the same stadium that hosted the 2002 World Cup final.

“This was special for the girls, getting to watch a professional game in a completely foreign atmosphere,” Ziemer said. “It was a great game too, a 4-3 final that was a back-and-forth affair.”

Then it was time to head to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, for the Oshima Cup, where both teams would come up against stiff competition against a series of local teams.

Both sides were perfect in three games each during the first game of the tournament, with the U16s scoring seven goals and conceding none, while the U17s posted a pair of 2-1 victories over Omiya Aroija and Tokyo Verdy, before defeating Consadole Sapporo via a 6-0 scoreline.

From there, both were able to punch their ticket in the semifinals after two more games of group stage play, setting up a rematch for the U17s against Tokyo Verdy, a club that previous PDP squads have matched up against in the Gothia Cup.

There would be no fairytale run, though, as the U17s fell to Tokyo, while the U16s were able to defeat Imac Kobe 3-2 on penalties after a one-goal draw.

This meant that both sides qualified for the final day of the tournament, with the U17s falling to Imac Kobe to finish 3rd and the U16s losing to Tokyo Verdy to place as runners-up.

“Tokyo Verdy were one of the best girls teams I’ve ever seen,” Ziemer said. “They had a couple of national team players and overall it was just a very special team – top team in Japan in this age group.”

“Japanese players are very technically proficient, capable of playing quick combinations, and are aggressive with heading and taking the ball out of the air,” Ziemer added. “Fundementally they are just very, very proficient, they tend to be very quick and that presented our girls with a lot of challenges.”

“Even so, we just concentrated on our process and tried to improve as individuals and as a team – with both teams we did that,” Ziemer concluded. “We peaked at the end, with the 16’s playing their best game in the semi finals and the U17s playing their best in the third place game.”

Overall, the experience on the field proved invaluable, but the trip also served as a quality life experience in which everyone got to play top-level teams while opening their eyes to culture beyond life in California.

“Throughout the trip, the two teams bonded, grew together, and created memories that will last a lifetime,” said Assistant PDP Director Justin Selander. “On the pitch they played some beautiful football, while off the pitch they immersed themselves in Japanese culture, visiting stunning temples and shrines and experiencing a variety of delicious new foods.”

“For many of the players, the trip was more than just a football tour–it was an unforgettable experience,” Selander added. “As several of the players described it, it was quite simply the best experience of their lives.”