Paris Saint-Germain announce summer tour of Japan
The Paris Saint-Germain first team, including Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Marquinhos and Gianluigi Donnarumma, will be heading to Japan this summer to prepare for the 2022/23 season and meet with their fans in the country.
The announcement was made in Tokyo this morning at a press conference given by Paris Saint-Germain Managing Director Sebastien Wasels, former club legend and J-League player Patrick Mboma, and by Kazuyoshi Miura, who has been appointed as Tour Ambassador.
The tour will feature three matches, starting with a game against Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium (Tokyo) on 20 July and followed by fixtures with Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium (Saitama) on 23 July and Gamba Osaka at Panasonic Stadium Suita (Osaka).
An exceptional event, the tour is being planned and produced by CIRCUS Inc. and the first match will be broadcasted all across Japan by Tokyo Broadcasting System.
The newly crowned ten-time Ligue 1 champions will also be holding open training sessions at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo and the J Green Sakai in Osaka, where fans will be able to watch the players being put through their paces. As part of the tour, the players will hold meet and greets with supporters, discover Japanese culture.
The tour will also herald the now-traditional launch of next season’s away shirt and visit of the club’s stores and café in Tokyo.
In a country where innovation rules, Paris Saint-Germain – the club of the new generation – will also provide a boost to its esports section especially as the club recently set up a Rainbow VI team in Tokyo.
Sebastien Wasels, Managing Director Paris Saint-Germain:
“Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to return to Asia this July for an exciting tour in Japan following successful tours in China and Singapore in 2018 and 2019. The club’s popularity in Asia has grown tremendously over the past ten years and the club can now count on millions of fans in Japan.
We are thrilled to reaffirm our strong commitment to the country by playing three matches in Tokyo and Osaka and creating memorable experiences for our Japanese fans and partners.
Paris and Japan have always shared strong ties, and Paris Saint-Germain has built on this strong relationship. We have established a high-profile presence in Japan thanks to our fans’ unwavering passion for the club, our network of stores in Tokyo and Nagoya, our competitive Paris Saint-Germain Japan Esports team, and our representative office in Tokyo.
We are counting on our Japanese fans to show the fervour for which they are famed for, at the various matches and training exhibitions scheduled for Tokyo and Osaka this July.”
Kylian Mbappé: “I’ve already been fortunate enough to visit and it’s a wonderful country. The team will love it and it‘ll be a chance for us to meet our many Japanese fans who love football and are very knowledgeable about it.”
Lionel Messi: “I’ve already been to Japan a few times but it’s been a while since my last visit. But each time I’ve gone it’s been a marvellous experience. It’ll be an opportunity to fraternize with our local fans. We can’t wait to get over there, it’ll give us a chance to prepare for next season.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s summer 2022 tour of Japan is its first to the country since QSI took over the club in 2011 and established a presence in Tokyo in 2017. It is the club’s third Asian summer tour after the 2018 and 2019 visits to China and Singapore.
Tour Summary:
July 20th (WED) Kick-off: 19:30 (Expected)
Paris Saint-Germain VS Kawasaki Frontale @National Stadium
July 23rd (SAT) Kick-off: 19:00 (Expected)
Paris Saint-Germain VS Urawa Red Diamonds @Saitama Stadium
July 25th (MON) Kick-off: 19:00 (Expected)
Paris Saint-Germain VS Gamba Osaka @Panasonic Stadium Suita