CAG Osaka Exit Street Fighter League Japan Ahead of 2026 Season

Street Fighter League Japan stalwart CAG Osaka have made the shock announcement that they will withdraw from the 2026 Street Fighter League Japan season and disband their fighting game division.

The organisation confirmed the news via a statement released on social media, explaining that the decision would result in all players being released at the conclusion of their contracts.

The statement, originally released in Japanese, reads:

“We sincerely thank you for your continued support of CAG OSAKA.

We hereby announce that our team will withdraw from participation in Street Fighter League: Pro-JP 2026 and will suspend all activities of our fighting game division as of the end of March 2026.

Regarding the players affiliated with this division—Fenritchi, Eita, and Uryo—they will be leaving the team upon the expiration of their respective contracts.

Since joining the league in 2023, our players have consistently delivered numerous memorable matches each season through their unwavering dedication and passion.

We sincerely hope that the players will take bold new steps toward a brighter future ahead.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the fans who have warmly supported the fighting game division and our players, as well as to everyone involved in the league.

We would be delighted to continue receiving your unwavering cheers for our players. Thank you very much for your understanding and support.”

The players affected by the decision are Fenritti, Eita, and Uryo.

Capcom Respond and Open Applications for Replacement Team

Following CAG Osaka’s announcement, Capcom released a statement confirming that the withdrawal request had been formally accepted and outlining the next steps for the league.

Capcom’s statement reads in full:

“We have received a request from ‘CAG OSAKA,’ a participating team in Street Fighter League: Pro-JP, to withdraw from participation starting from the 2026 season.

After careful deliberation by Capcom Co., Ltd., the organizer of this league, we have formally accepted the aforementioned request.

Due to this withdrawal, in order to conduct the 2026 season league with 12 teams, we will publicly recruit one new team.

This recruitment is premised on gaining empathy and understanding for the league's philosophy of aiming to enhance the commercial value through the medium- to long-term expansion and popularization of the competitive scene in Japan and abroad, across various regions, and through collaboration with other participating teams.

We believe this will provide a broad opportunity for entry to teams and owners currently operating Street Fighter divisions.”

Capcom confirmed that applications for the vacant slot will close on March 23, 2026.

There are several organisations well-positioned to take up the newly opened slot. Riddle Order, home to players such as Takagi and Jr., is one potential candidate.

SCARZ could also enter the conversation, with established talents like Ryusei and Kincho. Additionally, loan arrangements may be possible, particularly with teams such as REJECT, who have a deep roster including Eguto and Hinao.

CAG Osaka’s Legacy in the Fighting Game Scene

CAG Osaka have been part of the fighting game ecosystem for nearly a decade, first forming their FGC division in 2016 with marquee players such as Dogura, GO1, and Tanukana.

They joined Street Fighter League Japan in 2023 and produced strong performances across three seasons. In 2025, the team brought in Takagi on loan from Riddle Order and narrowly missed out on a playoff spot, despite the earlier departure of GO1 to DetonatioN FocusMe.

CAG Osaka’s departure comes at an unexpected time, with Street Fighter 6 enjoying immense popularity and Street Fighter League Japan recently recording its highest-ever revenues at the Grand Finals.

As the league prepares to enter its ninth season, CAG Osaka’s withdrawal marks the end of a significant chapter in SFL history, even as the competitive scene continues to grow at an unprecedented pace.