{
  "id": 15860516,
  "title": "Japan FA president pushes Premier League pipeline for Japanese talent. Infantino traveling in Asia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/japan-fa-president-pushes-premier-league-pipeline-for-japanese-talent",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T07:59:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/2026/10/21/japan-fa-president-pushes-premier-league-pipeline-for-japanese-talent-infantino-traveling-in-asia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, the president of the Japan Football Association, believes the best environment for developing Japanese talent is in the English Premier League. Speaking at an Asian Football Confederation seminar in Tokyo, Miyamoto highlighted that nine Japanese players currently play in the Premier League, along with eight others in the second division. Miyamoto, a former defender who led Japan's 2002 and 2006 World Cup squads, expressed a desire to see more Japanese players sign with Premier League clubs, citing the league's ideal setting for aspiring top-tier athletes.\n\nFIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is seeking his fourth term, has been traveling extensively in Asia to gain vital votes for the FIFA presidential election in March. With 47 member associations, the African Football Confederation could potentially sway the election by supporting Infantino, while Europe largely opposes his candidacy. Infantino, who is currently in Asia for the Asian Football Confederation meeting, is set to appear at the two-day event, although he is not listed as an official speaker on the summit's agenda.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Tsuneyasu Miyamoto believes Premier League best for Japanese talent development",
    "Nine Japanese players in Premier League, eight in second division",
    "FIFA president Infantino traveling in Asia for presidential election"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Targeting the English Premier League as a primary development hub signals a strategic shift toward securing elite competitive environments for Japan's rising generation of top-tier football talent.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}