J.League/Pokemon
Japan’s professional soccer league, the J.League, has officially confirmed a collaboration with Pokemon that will see all 60 of its clubs receive a unique partner Pokemon, with the full lineup set to be revealed on July 6 at 18:00 JST.
The 60 clubs span three professional divisions, with 20 clubs each in J1, J2 and J3, meaning the collaboration covers the full breadth of professional soccer in Japan rather than just the top flight.
The league teased the announcement with a silhouette of Pikachu on its official X account alongside the caption “Oh!?” before confirming the partnership and posting that “The J.League is evolving.” The new season kicks off on August 7, 2026.
It’s not the J.League’s first collaboration with Pokemon
It is not the first time the two have crossed paths. In 2014, the J.League collaborated with Pokemon for their Family Join Days, giving young fans who attended matches a rare promotional Pikachu card.
The card became a collector favourite as one of the few instances where sports and the Pokemon Trading Card Game crossed over, and is still sought after by crossover collectors today.
The upcoming reveal on July 6 will show exactly which Pokemon has been matched to each of the 60 clubs, a pairing process that is likely to spark debate and discussion across both fan bases in Japan.
Pokemon has been expanding its real-world sports tie-ins in recent years. the San Francisco Giants unveiled a special Pokemon Worlds Night ahead of the 2026 Pokemon World Championships, complete with an exclusive Pikachu jersey that sold out immediately.
