Borussia Dortmund are on tour again for 2026/27 pre-season as they head to Japan. - © Alex Grimm

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Follow Borussia Dortmund on pre-season tour to Japan

22.07.2026

Borussia Dortmund are off on tour to Japan as part of their pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. You can follow all the latest from their travels, including two friendly matches, on this page.

The tour, sponsored by Evonik, runs from 26 July to 2 August 2026 and is the fourth time Dortmund have made the trip to Japan following tours to Toyko (2015, 2017) and Osaka (2024).

Two friendly games have been planned against partner club Cerezo Osaka - where former BVB hero Shinji Kagawa currently plays - on 29 July, before travelling to play FC Tokyo in the capital on 1 August.

Yamamoto catches the eye

Somewhat fitting ahead of their tour, Japanese youngster Takato Yamamoto caught the eye in BVB's first friendly of pre-season, scoring in a 3-1 win over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (highlights below). The 18-year-old joined Dortmund's reserves on a season-long loan from Gamba Osaka in July and will travel with the senior squad back to his homeland. "He had some good moments. I saw real potential, and that's positive for us," Kovač said after the game.

Who isn't going?

Captain Emre Can and deputy Nico Schlotterbeck (pictured) are both injured and will remain in Dortmund. Gregor Kobel, Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson and Marcel Sabitzer will also sit out this tour following their endeavours at the World Cup.

Travelling squad

Borussia have announced a preliminary travelling party of 20 players consisting of: Alexander Meyer, Patrick Drewes, Diant Ramaj, Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Carney Chukwuemeka, Fabio Silva, Joane Gadou, Daniel Svensson, Justin Lerma, Filippo Mané, Samuele Inácio, Mathis Albert, Almugera Kabar, Takato Yamamoto, Luca Reggiani

0:32

Watch: Dortmund return to training

Niko Kovač welcomed back his squad after their summer holidays on 14 July as they look to build on last season's runners-up finish in the Bundesliga.

1:06

Watch: Dortmund delighting Japanese fans

BVB last travelled to Japan in 2024 and were happily welcomed by the local fans.

1:25

Watch: Top 5 Japanese goals

Kagawa features among our compilation of some of the best Japanese strikes in the Bundesliga.

Two matches and a reunion

Dortmund will spend eight days in Japan from 26 July to 2 August, split between Osaka and Tokyo. Two friendly matches have been scheduled against Cerezo Osaka - current home of ex-BVB star Shinji Kagawa (pictured) - on 29 July (7pm local time/12pm CEST) and FC Tokyo on 1 August (7pm/12pm).

Konnichiwa!

Borussia Dortmund are off to Japan this summer and you can keep up with all the latest news, events and friendly matches from the Bundesliga club as they take in the sights and sounds of Osaka and Tokyo on their fourth trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.