Japan Football Association (JFA) has announced the four players who will represent Japan in the lead-up to the FIFAe World Cup 2025™, an international esports football tournament organised by FIFA.

Following online qualifiers that attracted over 400,000 participants nationwide, the final selection event – the JFA Japan eNational Team Selection Tournament 2025 – was held on 6 September at JFA’s football culture hub, blue-ing!. The winners were Tess and Ax (Console category / Team: DRX), and SOUSHUN (Mobile category). Additionally, Takaki has been named as a support member for the Console category. These four players will represent Japan in the East Asia & Oceania Regional Qualifiers as they strive to secure a place at the FIFAe World Cup 2025™.

The FIFAe World Cup 2025™, scheduled to take place this December in Saudi Arabia, is FIFA’s official international esports football competition. The tournament comprises two categories: Console and Mobile. Participants – who have progressed through in-game qualifiers and national selection tournaments – will compete for the world title, representing countries and regions from around the globe. As with last year, the official game title will be “eFootball™,” published by KONAMI Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. Matches in the Console category will be played in a 2v2 format, while the Mobile category will follow a 1v1 format. Prize money will be awarded to the top-performing nations in each category.

Japan eNational Team

Console category

Player Name: KIDA Ekuya
Team: DRX
Notable achievements:
・Winner of National Prefectural Competitive Esports Championship 2019 IBARAKI (Youth division)
・Runner-up of eJ.League eFootball™ 2024
・Winner of eFootball™ Championship 2024 FC Barcelona Finals
・Runner-up of 2025 eFootball™ China Invitational
・Top 16 finish at eFootball™ Championship World Finals 2025

Player's comment:
I'm relieved to have been selected for the Japan national team. With the Asian qualifiers just around the corner, I'm determined to stay focused and work hard alongside Ax to secure our place in the World Cup.

Username: Ax
Player Name: HASHIKI Shunpei
Team: DRX
Notable achievements:
・Runner-up of National Prefectural Competitive Esports Championship 2020 KAGOSHIMA (Open division)
・Runner-up of eJ.League eFootball™ 2022 (Kashiwa Reysol/PlayStation category)
・Runner-up of AFC eAsian CUP 2023 (Japan eNational Team)
・Runner-up of eFootball™ Championship 2024 Arsenal FC Club Finals
・Runner-up of eFootball™ Championship World Finals 2024
・Winner of esports championship East Asia 2024
・Top 10 finish at FIFAe World Cup 2024
・Winner of eFootball™ Championship 2025 Arsenal FC Club Finals
・Top 8 finish at eJ.League 2025 (Shonan Bellmare)
・Winner of 2025 eFootball™ China
・Top 16 finish at eFootball™ Championship World Finals 2025

Player's comment:
After the disappointment of last year, I truly feel that losing is not an option this time. Together with Tess, I’m fully committed to giving my all in both the Asian qualifiers and the World Cup. Thank you for your continued support.

Username: Takaki
Player Name: HYOGO Takaki
Team: Yokohama F. Marinos esports
Notable achievements:
・Winner of eFootball™ Championship Open 2022 (Steam category)
・Winner of National Prefectural Competitive Esports Championship 2023 KAGOSHIMA
・Winner of eJ.League eFootball™ 2024 (Yokohama F. Marinos/PlayStation category)
・Winner of eFootball™ Championship 2024 FC Inter Club Finals
・Top 10 finish at FIFAe World Cup 2024

Player's comment:
Although I’m once again joining the team as a support player, I’ll be doing everything I can to help Ax and Tess achieve strong results for Japan.

Mobile category

Username: SOUSHUN
Player Name: YOSHIDA Shunei
Team: Unaffiliated
Notable achievements:
・Top4 finish at eFootball™ Championship 2024 FC Barcelona Finals
・Represented Oita Trinita in eJ.League eFootball™ 2025
・Represented Oita in National Prefectural Competitive Esports Championship 2025 SHIGA

Player's comment:
I’m thrilled to have achieved my childhood dream of becoming a member of the Japan National Team. I will give my absolute best to help Japan become world champions.

(Reference) Japan eNational Team's upcoming schedule

September (dates TBC): Training camp
Wed. 24 - Sat. 27 September: Console category FIFAe World Cup 2025™ Regional Qualifiers (East Asia/Oceania)/Online
Thu. 2 - Sun. 5 October: Mobile category FIFAe World Cup 2025™ Regional Qualifiers (East Asia and Oceania)/Online
Wed. 10 - Sat. 13 December: FIFAe World Cup 2025™/Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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