FC Machida Zelvia

commonly known as is a Japanese football club based in Machida, Tokyo. The club set to make their debut in J1 League for the 2024 season, following their promotion in 2023 as the J2 League champions. History Machida is known as the "Brazil of Tokyo" due to the popularity of football in the city; in fact, it has produced the second-largest number of J. League players though its football school. Originally formed in 1977, this school is well known for its development of young talents into professional players. In 1989, in order to retain talents, Machida founded its own top team, which at that time played in the Tokyo Prefectural League. In 2003, they became a multi-sport club under the name Athletic Club Machida, and in 2005 were promoted to the Kanto League, having won the Tokyo Prefectural League (First Division). They came first in the Kanto league (Second Division) the following year, and were promoted to First Division, where they stayed until promotion to the Japan Football League as champions of the Regional Promotion Playoff Series in 2008. In 2009, they adopted the current nickname Zelvia, a portmanteau of the Portuguese words zelkova (Machida city's official tree) and salvia (a grassy plant commonly used in football pitches).