Miami, FL (June 24, 2025) — KODANSHA Ltd., the iconic Japanese publishing house behind globally beloved manga and anime titles, and Concacaf, are proud to announce a first-of-its-kind collaboration featuring the critically acclaimed manga and anime series BLUE LOCK.
This marks Concacaf’s inaugural partnership with a Japanese Manga (Comic) and Anime (Animated Series)–uniting two global passions through a shared spirit of competition, ambition, and teamwork. Through this distinct alliance, fans across the Concacaf region will experience exclusive original content, limited-edition merchandise, and crossover activations that blend the intensity of international football with the storytelling power of Japanese animation. BLUE LOCK, based on the award-winning manga created by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, follows the intense journey of Japan’s top strikers as they battle in a high-stakes training program to become the ultimate forward. With themes of ambition, competition, and teamwork, BLUE LOCK resonates deeply with global football culture—making it the perfect fit for this groundbreaking collaboration.
“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.”
Concacaf echoed the excitement, “This collaboration with KODANSHA and BLUE LOCK is a unique and innovative way to engage new generations of football fans in our region,” said Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary. “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.”
Launching in mid-2025 and running through 2026 leading up to the World Cup, the multi-phase collaboration will include:
This marks Concacaf’s inaugural partnership with a Japanese Manga (Comic) and Anime (Animated Series)–uniting two global passions through a shared spirit of competition, ambition, and teamwork. Through this distinct alliance, fans across the Concacaf region will experience exclusive original content, limited-edition merchandise, and crossover activations that blend the intensity of international football with the storytelling power of Japanese animation. BLUE LOCK, based on the award-winning manga created by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, follows the intense journey of Japan’s top strikers as they battle in a high-stakes training program to become the ultimate forward. With themes of ambition, competition, and teamwork, BLUE LOCK resonates deeply with global football culture—making it the perfect fit for this groundbreaking collaboration.
“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.”
Concacaf echoed the excitement, “This collaboration with KODANSHA and BLUE LOCK is a unique and innovative way to engage new generations of football fans in our region,” said Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary. “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.”
Launching in mid-2025 and running through 2026 leading up to the World Cup, the multi-phase collaboration will include:
- Special events during Concacaf tournaments
- Limited edition BLUE LOCK x Concacaf merchandise
- Cross-platform campaigns across anime, manga, and football fan communities
Artworks Entertainment, a key licensing and brand strategy partner, is overseeing implementation of the project across the Americas and other key markets. All licensing inquiries for BLUE LOCK x Concacaf opportunities should be directed to Bluelockconcacaf@artworks-ent.com.
Further updates and exclusive announcements will be shared as the collaboration continues to unfold.
About KODANSHA Ltd.
KODANSHA is a leading Japanese publishing company known worldwide for its iconic manga titles such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and BLUE LOCK. KODANSHA continues to shape global pop culture through its innovative storytelling and commitment to creative excellence. https://www.kodansha.com/index.html
About BLUE LOCK:
Written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura, BLUE LOCK has captivated audiences since its debut in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine in August 2018, and it has now surpassed 45 million copies in circulation worldwide. The English edition is published by Kodansha USA Publishing, with up to Volume 31 available [https://kodansha.us/series/blue-lock/], while the Spanish edition is released by Editorial Planeta, currently up to Volume 26 [https://www.planetadelibros.com/serie-blue-lock/16543].
The anime adaptation of BLUE LOCK began in 2022 and currently includes two seasons and a spin-off movie, BLUE LOCK: Episode Nagi. All are available exclusively on Crunchyroll in North America and Latin America. For more information, visit: https://bluelock-anime-en.com/
Further updates and exclusive announcements will be shared as the collaboration continues to unfold.
About KODANSHA Ltd.
KODANSHA is a leading Japanese publishing company known worldwide for its iconic manga titles such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and BLUE LOCK. KODANSHA continues to shape global pop culture through its innovative storytelling and commitment to creative excellence. https://www.kodansha.com/index.html
About BLUE LOCK:
Written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura, BLUE LOCK has captivated audiences since its debut in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine in August 2018, and it has now surpassed 45 million copies in circulation worldwide. The English edition is published by Kodansha USA Publishing, with up to Volume 31 available [https://kodansha.us/series/blue-lock/], while the Spanish edition is released by Editorial Planeta, currently up to Volume 26 [https://www.planetadelibros.com/serie-blue-lock/16543].
The anime adaptation of BLUE LOCK began in 2022 and currently includes two seasons and a spin-off movie, BLUE LOCK: Episode Nagi. All are available exclusively on Crunchyroll in North America and Latin America. For more information, visit: https://bluelock-anime-en.com/
