The new event is the brainchild of the Japan Blind Football Association and the first edition will take place in Tokyo from March 18-25, 2018. It aims to tap into the popularity of football and the enhanced interest shown by sponsors and spectators in the run up to the 2020 Paralympic Games in the Japanese capital. 

The World Grand Prix (WGP) will comprise two separate tournaments – an elite category for six national teams placed in the top 16 of the IBSA Blind Football ranking table, and a development tournament for four teams sitting outside the top 16.

The elite event will provide an opportunity for the world's best teams to play against each other just three months before the biggest tournament of the year – the IBSA Blind Football World Championships – in Madrid, Spain, in June 2018.

The development tournament will offer up-and-coming teams the chance to face teams around their own level, as well as share an event with the world's best blind footballers.

Hosts Japan will field a team in both tournaments – its full national team in the elite event and a development squad in the second tournament – leaving five slots free in the eleite competition and three in the development event.

As the IBSA Blind Football WGP is an officially-sanctioned event, all participating countries must be IBSA members in good standing.

Countries meeting these criteria and wishing to take part are invited to fill in the first entry form (expression of interest) above and return it to [email protected] by Tuesday 31st October 2017. 

The entry fee is 500 Euros per person. 

For more information click on the invitation above or contact Eigo Matsuzaki, Executive Director of the Japan Blind Football Association, at [email protected].

Caption: Japan Blind Football Association logo.