Somewhere in Japan, the Football Journal is conducting an interview with the surprise star player, Itoshi Sae, a 17-year-old Japanese midfielder who, despite already securing a spot on the Japan National Team, shows little to no interest in Japanese football. Though he could easily bask in fame and accolades, Sae’s passion lies elsewhere; for him, representing Japan is inconsequential. As the interview progresses, he listens politely at first, then makes a bold, cutting declaration about the state of football in the country—before promptly leaving the room, leaving reporters stunned in his wake.

Unbeknownst to the public, Sae is only back in Japan temporarily, simply to renew his passport. As he exits the building, however, his sharp blue eyes catch sight of a press conference for Blue Lock, a groundbreaking project aiming to revolutionize Japanese soccer. Reporters swarm Anri and Hirotoshi, bombarding them with questions about the realism and reliability of the program. Calm and confident, Anri explains that Blue Lock will succeed, creating a hero who can finally lead Japan to victory and fix the long-standing flaws in the nation’s football.

Sae’s curiosity is immediately piqued. Though he has no desire to engage with ordinary football, something about the conviction in Anri’s voice draws him in. He listens intently as the First Selection is detailed: a round-robin tournament among the five teams of the fifth stratum, where only the top two teams will advance. Alternatively, an exceptional individual can secure advancement by becoming the top scorer and dominant player on their team. Points will determine rankings—three for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss—and the margin of defeat will further separate teams tied in points. Team Z’s members, realizing they will need to cooperate to advance, begin debating positions and strategies, their competitive spirits clashing even before the first match.

Back in the conference hall, Anri elaborates on the history of Japanese football—how the nation has come so close to the World Cup, yet always falls short. With Blue Lock, the dream of being the best in the world is officially revived. A hero must be born, and that hero will emerge from a facility filled to the brim with individuals who crave nothing more than to be the best. At that moment, Sae Itoshi turns to his manager and instructs him to cancel all his plans. For the first time in a long while, he is genuinely interested—not in the sport itself, but in the players Blue Lock might produce. He wants to watch them fail.