Reliance Foundation is sending the three best-performing teams from its Development League (RFDL) – India’s top U-21 football competition- on an international tour to Japan, aimed at strengthening the country’s talent pipeline for the national team. Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, and Punjab FC earned this opportunity based on their performance in the 2025-26 RFDL season.
Tour Details
The tour runs from July 11 to July 23 in Fukuoka, where the Indian sides will take on Avispa Fukuoka U18, Sagan Tosu U18, Giravanz Kitakyushu U18, and FC Baleine Shimonoseki U21. The matches are designed to expose India’s young players to high-intensity competition and different tactical styles within one of Asia’s most respected football development ecosystems.
Coaches Weigh In
Bengaluru FC Reserves Head Coach and former India captain Renedy Singh highlighted the value of the trip, noting that the team played 23 matches over the course of the season and now gets to test itself against top-tier opposition, calling it a strong platform for teams, coaches, and players alike.
FC Goa’s development team head coach, Israil Gurung, pointed to Japan’s grassroots strength as a reason the trip will be valuable for player growth, framing it as part of a broader development phase for the club’s young talent.
Punjab FC, who previously toured the UK in 2024 and beat both Everton and Aston Villa on that trip, will also join the delegation. Youth head coach Praveen Kumar described Japan’s youth football setup as well-structured, and said Reliance Foundation’s tours are helping bridge the gap between youth and senior-level football.
Beyond the Pitch
The trip isn’t just about matches. It also includes a three-day coaching education programme for six coaches at Avispa Fukuoka, covering individual development plans and high-performance training environments, including a session with the Football Director of FC Machida Zelvia, a club that rose from Japan’s second division to the AFC Champions League Elite Final in just three years.
The delegation will also take part in cultural visits to the Nagasaki Peace Stadium, the Atomic Bomb Museum, and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
The Bigger Picture
This tour builds on RFDL’s earlier exposure trips against English youth clubs, and reflects Reliance Foundation’s broader strategy of pairing strong domestic competition with international experience and coaching education, using Japan’s proven youth football model as a benchmark for developing India’s next generation of players.
Source: ANI