BLUE LOCK will bridge the worlds of football (soccer) and anime

Kodansha Ltd. has revealed an exciting new collaboration with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf). This first-of-its-kind collaboration features the critically acclaimed manga/anime series Blue Lock, which centers around soccer and combines high-stakes sports competition with psychological drama and survival-style elimination.

This collaboration marks a significant first for Concacaf as it partners with a renowned Japanese manga and anime company, bringing together two beloved global interests through a shared passion for competition, ambition, and collaboration. This unique alliance promises to offer fans throughout the Americas exclusive original content, limited-edition merchandise, and exciting crossover events that fuse the thrill of international football with the captivating narratives of Japanese animation.

The anime series Blue Lock, inspired by the acclaimed manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, follows the intense journey of Japan’s national soccer team hopefuls as they navigate a high-stakes training program aimed at crafting the ultimate forward. Blue Lock aligns perfectly with global football culture with its focus on ambition, competition, and teamwork, making this partnership a groundbreaking endeavor.

The series has become one of the most successful modern sports anime/manga series. Its edgy take on soccer, dynamic art style, and intense character development have made it especially popular among fans of shows like Haikyuu!!, Kuroko no Basket, and Attack on Titan (which shares a similar art team).

“This is a thrilling moment for us,” said Yohei Takami, Managing Director, Global Business Development Division of KODANSHA Ltd. “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.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio said, “This collaboration with KODANSHA and Blue Lock is a unique and innovative way to engage new generations of football fans in our region. 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.”

While this may be a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Concacaf, it’s not the first time there’s been a soccer and comics mash-up. Most recently, in March 2024, Belgium’s national soccer team announced that they would be wearing uniforms inspired by Hergé’s Tintin.