[Event Report] The Game's First Official Offline Tournament

On 7 June 2026, PIZZA-LA Presents: The 1st SFCC Ultimate Manager Japan Championship, the first official offline tournament for SEGA FOOTBALL CLUB CHAMPIONS, kicked off at SEGA Headquarters in Osaki, Tokyo.

29 managers from across Japan, having qualified through the online preliminaries on Discord, gathered to compete for the title of first-ever Ultimate Manager. Alongside the fiercely contested main tournament, the event featured international friendlies against guest managers from overseas, a Q&A session with the developers, and the announcement of the winners from the Discord senryu contest, culminating in a day that put the SFCC community's passion on full display.

Nail-Biting Showdowns

After an eight-group qualifying stage, the tournament moved into the knockout rounds.

The semi-finals were filled with dramatic upsets and high-level tactical plays that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The final featured Utakata against akataku in a thrilling face-off, the opening match going all the way to the penalty shootout and keeping everyone at the edge of their seats. In the second match, akataku dominated the pitch, securing victory and becoming the first-ever SFCC Ultimate Manager.

Revelling in his win, akataku said, 'For the past two weeks, I've poured everything into building this team, even sacrificing sleep. I wouldn't be standing here today without the support of my friends and everyone in the community!'

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All-Star Hong Kong Managers Take the Pitch

International friendlies with guest managers from Hong Kong kicked off after the tournament.

Gung Yeuk Mui (Left), winner of the Hong Kong Championship held in late May, and runner-up Umi no Triton (Right) travelled to Japan for the event, taking on Japan's top managers in special exhibition matches, the cross-border competition sending a waves of excitement through the crowds watching both at the venue and online.

A particular highlight came when Gung Yeuk Mui applauded akataku after conceding a goal, recognising the quality of the play despite being on the receiving end.

The display of sportsmanship and mutual respect drew praise from spectators.

Before his match, Gung Yeuk Mui commented, 'I've been looking forward to meeting everyone in Japan.' Afterwards, he added, 'I was very nervous, but it was a great match. I'm grateful to SEGA, and I'm thrilled that my team was able to perform at its best.'

Umi no Triton also shared his enthusiasm before the event, remarking, 'I'm so glad to be here today, and I look forward to playing a great match with the Japanese manager!' Following the showdown, he commented, 'I'd like to thank SEGA for inviting us to Japan. The match was great fun, and I hope the SFCC fanbase will continue to grow.'

Both managers also shared highlights from their stay in Japan. Gung Yeuk Mui revealed that he watched a film in Japan for the first time and even chose to attend this event over an Attack on Titan concert in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Umi no Triton was impressed with Shibuya, from its pro wrestling scene to the crowds at the scramble crossing. He was also surprised to find that Japan national team shirts were sold out in football shops.

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Developer Q&A Draws a Crowd

The event also featured a Q&A session with key developers, with attendees asking about everything from player growth and future licences to PvP features. When a participant suggested awarding an exclusive title to managers who qualified for the tournament, producer Hisai immediately replied, "Let's make it happen!", drawing a huge round of applause and highlighting the close connection between the developers and the community.

SFCC Senryu Contest Surpasses 370 Submissions

The winners of the SFCC Senryu Contest, held on Discord, were also announced at the event.

From more than 370 submissions, winners were selected for the Director Funakoshi Award, Producer Hisai Award, and Grand Prize.

Director Funakoshi Award Winner:

'the players I met

in SFCC

I now cheer for in real life'

Producer Hisai Award Winner:

'no funds left

stadium toilets dismantled

feeling nothing but shame'

The line drew plenty of laughter from the crowd.

But one senryu stood above the rest as the most popular among the Discord community.

Grand Prize Winner:

'thirty years on

my days of adolescence

are still right here with me'

The heartfelt entry resonated with long-time fans, and was met with a round of applause that filled the venue.

Developer Messages

Following the event, director Funakoshi said, 'It was clear from the way the participants handled those matches that they've been deeply engaging with the game. We want to match their enthusiasm by providing them with a roadmap full of updates that they can look forward to.'

Producer Hisai also reflected, 'There were plenty of challenges leading up to the release, but seeing the people here today make new connections and friendships through the game has made it all worthwhile. I'm so glad we created SFCC.'

A Community United

Rather than simply being a tournament to crown the first-ever champion, the Ultimate Manager Championship was a celebration of the close-knit community that SFCC has brought together.

After the tournament ended, participants could still be seen chatting and spending time together, with the excitement lasting right through to the moment everyone left the venue.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended or tuned in to the live stream!

We'll keep bringing you new events and updates that the community can enjoy together, and creating more opportunities for managers to connect both in Japan and around the world. Look forward to what's on the horizon!

A recording of the tournament is also available to watch on demand.

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