Kodansha and Concacaf Launch Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough Competition

Do You Have the Ego to Win? Prove it for a chance to be crowned the Ultimate Striker.

New York, NY — Kodansha, the creative force behind iconic pop-culture properties “Akira,” “Ghost in the Shell,” and “Attack on Titan,” is collaborating with Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, to officially “kick off” Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough, a nationwide online competition inviting fans and soccer players across the U.S. to show off their style, creativity, and ego. This mindset defines BLUE LOCK, Kodansha’s global-hit soccer-centric elimination-game saga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura.

Inspired by BLUE LOCK, Kodansha’s global-hit soccer saga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, the campaign brings the high-stakes world of the series off the page and onto the pitch. By bridging professional soccer and global anime, Kodansha and Concacaf are creating a space where two of the world’s most passionate fandoms can collide in a new way.

Starting May 27, fans ages 13+ can submit soccer-inspired videos and photos through the Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough website for a chance to be crowned the Ultimate Striker. To enter, participants post their content on social media using #bluelockdiamonds and complete their submission at www.bluelockdiamonds.com.

Fan voting on the website will determine which submissions advance to the semi-final round. The final winners will then be selected by a panel of judges. Winners will be announced live at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Beyond the Ultimate Striker Grand Prize, fans can compete across five additional categories—Just Like BLUE LOCK, Best Use of Manga, Best Fan Energy, Best Cosplay (Group), and Best Cosplay (Individual)—with exclusive BLUE LOCK prizes and collectibles up for grabs across the board. Weekly raffle prizes will also be awarded to registered Kodansha Reader Portal (kodansha.us) users throughout the campaign.

The collaboration will also extend into collectible products, retail experiences, and live activations tied to the world of BLUE LOCK. Striker’s Collection, a limited-edition BLUE LOCK × Concacaf project launching on Kickstarter, will feature officially licensed collector pieces inspired by the intensity of the game and bold “ego” energy. Select comic shops, bookstores, and Kinokuniya locations across the U.S. will feature custom in-store installations, photo opportunities, and bonus gifts with purchase.

The campaign will culminate and come alive with the Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough Experience at Kodansha House in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, from July 2–12, where fans can step into the world of BLUE LOCK and have the chance to meet the creators at Kodansha House and Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center from July 2–5.

From exclusive digital content and limited-edition product collaborations to live activations in LA and beyond, Kodansha and Concacaf are bringing football fans, anime fans, and strikers in the making together through competition, creativity, and the shared energy of the game.

For more information, visit www.bluelockdiamonds.com and follow #bluelockdiamonds.