CONCACAF Joining Forces With Anime Series ‘Blue Lock’ for Collaboration
Credit: Kodansha/CONCACAF
Anime and fútbol—it’s quite a combination. And now, that partnership is bringing more to CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football. Kodansha Ltd, the iconic Japanese publishing house, and CONCACAF have just announced the first collaboration of its kind, featuring the manga and anime series Blue Lock.
“This is a thrilling moment for us,” Yohei Takami, Managing Director, Global Business Development Division of KODANSHA Ltd. said. “BLUE LOCK has already captured the hearts of anime and sports fans alike, and partnering with CONCACAF allows us to reach an even wider audience in a way that’s never been done before. It’s more than a marketing collaboration; it’s a cultural exchange between the worlds of anime and international football.”
CONCACAF agreed. “This collaboration with KODANSHA and BLUE LOCK is a unique and innovative way to engage new generations of football fans in our region,” said Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary. “Anime is a powerful storytelling medium, and this project helps us build bridges between communities, cultures, and fans through the shared love of the game.”
The partnership promises exclusive original content, limited-edition merchandise, and crossover activations that blend international football with Japanese animation. It is set to launch mid-2025 and run through the 2026 lead-up to the World Cup, with special events during key CONCACAF tournaments and cross-platform campaigns across anime, manga, and fan communities.
Blue Lock, based on the award-winning manga created by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, follows Japan’s top strikers as they embark on a high-stakes training program where they fight to become the ultimate forward. The anime series has a large viewership, and it is perhaps the most beloved manga/anime about the sport since Captain Tsubasa, an anime that made kids in Latin America root for Japan back in the 80s.