Tokyo Metro
Tokyo plays futsal on rooftop courts, in company leagues and in rented halls booked by the hour across the metropolis. The MCC Tokyo Metro tournament lays a 5-a-side season over that habit in 2027: three grounds around the capital, fixtures from 9 April to 9 May, and a ladder that ends at the World Final on 7 July.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Tokyo Metro with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
Saitama/North
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Chiba/East
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Tama/West
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
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Futsal and 5-a-side around Tokyo
Futsal is the everyday form of small-sided football in the Tokyo area, played at rooftop courts above stations, in sports halls and on hired outdoor pitches. Company teams, university circles and groups of old school friends book regular slots, and the Japanese futsal league, the F-League, gives the sport a visible profile. A team already playing weekly futsal has a head start.
MCC uses a 5-a-side format with rules of its own. A squad has up to nine players, each half is 15 minutes on a stopped clock, and a group of four plays three games. Penalties settle a level playoff at every stage, so no playoff ends without a winner.
Saitama/North, Chiba/East and Tama/West
The three grounds follow the metropolitan region rather than the 23 wards alone. Saitama/North reaches Saitama, Kawaguchi and the Saikyo and Utsunomiya lines. Chiba/East covers Chiba, Funabashi and the Keiyo side of Tokyo Bay. Tama/West covers Tachikawa, Hachioji, Machida and the Chuo line suburbs. Each ground runs its own round for 64 to 128 teams.
Trains do most of the work here, so a team's practical choice is the ground on its own line. Slots of 40 minutes keep each ground's timetable tight, and arriving on time is part of the local way of playing, so allow for the transfer between stations.
Golden Week, spring weather and the road out of Japan
April in Tokyo is mild, with cherry blossom fading early in the month, and May is warm and often dry before the rainy season starts in June. Golden Week falls in late April and early May, so teams should plan around holiday travel. The three group weekends are the 9th to 11th, 16th to 18th and 23rd to 25th of April, with playoffs from the 30th and finals on 9 May 2027.
The three Tokyo Metro champions meet the Osaka Metro champions at the Japan Country Championship on 28 to 30 May 2027. Its winner goes through to the continental stage, and the ladder ends with the World Final on 7 July 2027.
How MCC differs from Tokyo league and cup play
Futsal in Tokyo is mostly run through leagues and one-day cups at individual facilities. MCC offers one season instead: published rules, $20,000 for each ground's winner, and a route through Japan and Asia-Pacific to the World Final. Only amateur teams enter, each with a single Team License and a named Team President, and a zero-tolerance conduct policy applies.
The road out of Tokyo Metro
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Tokyo Metro
How does a team enter MCC in Tokyo Metro?
Register on this site and pick one of Tokyo Metro's three grounds: Saitama/North, Chiba/East, Tama/West. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Tokyo Metro?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Tokyo Metro grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Tokyo Metro?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Tokyo Metro team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Japan title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Can our futsal league team enter a 5-a-side tournament?
Yes. An amateur team with five to nine players can enter. Futsal teams will find the pace familiar, while the 15-minute halves on a stop clock and the squad rules are set by MCC.
Which ground should a team from central Tokyo choose?
Each ground is a full round, so the choice is practical. A team in the wards can pick Saitama/North, Chiba/East or Tama/West, whichever has the easiest train line for its squad.
Does Golden Week affect the schedule?
The group matches finish on 25 April and the playoffs begin on 30 April, so Golden Week falls during the playoff stage. The final of each ground is on 9 May, so teams should check that players are free from 30 April to 9 May before entering.
Who do Tokyo champions play at the Country Championship?
Japan has two host cities, Tokyo Metro and Osaka Metro. On 28 to 30 May 2027 the Pitch Champions from both cities meet at the Country Championship, and the winner goes on to the continental stage.
Also hosting in Japan
Nearby in Asia-Pacific
Claim a pitch in Tokyo Metro
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years