Capcom Updates Street Fighter League Rules Ahead of New Season

Following the conclusion of the Street Fighter League Japan season, the final SFL competition still ongoing, Capcom has released a new set of rules that will govern the upcoming season.

The updates cover several areas, but they primarily focus on two major changes:

• The reduction of the minimum age requirement in Japan, and

• New regulations around loan players and the signed player system.

Lower Age Limit for SFL Japan

Under the new rules, players aged 15 and above are now eligible to compete in Street Fighter League Japan, down from the previous minimum age of 18. However, this change applies only to players who qualify as “domestic players” in Japan.

This means that overseas players must still meet the age of majority in their home country to be eligible. As a result, an international prodigy like Blaz would still be unable to compete in SFL Japan at his current age, despite the reduced threshold.

Reworked Rules for Loan Players and Team Composition

The second change is more complex and could have far-reaching implications. The new rules are designed to encourage teams to develop their own rosters while limiting loan arrangements that could undermine competitive integrity.

Under the updated structure:

• Each SFL team must consist of four players.

• At least three of those players must be either “signed players” or “free agents.”

• Only one “signed free agent” is permitted per team.

A signed player is defined as a competitor who is officially registered with a team. This includes players who have worn the team’s jersey or used the team name in their gamertag at a Capcom-sanctioned event (excluding SFL) within 60 days prior to the start of the season, and throughout the season itself.

A free agent is a player who is either unsigned or signed to an organization that does not participate in SFL. A signed free agent, meanwhile, refers to a player signed to another SFL-participating team.

Teams may only loan out players if they can still field a full roster of their own signed players. If a team’s signed players are located outside the region they compete in, that team may sign free agents, but not signed free agents.

Capcom also confirmed a rule regarding team uniforms. All players must wear the jersey of the team they are competing for in SFL. While personal sponsors are still allowed to appear, the branding of the team a player is being loaned from may not.

This rule will take effect immediately in Japan, and from 2027 onward worldwide.

Practical Implications Across Regions

These changes carry significant real-world consequences. While they incentivize teams to build homegrown rosters, they also prevent certain roster arrangements from the most recent season from being repeated.

For example, REJECT, the winners of SFL Japan this season, fielded Tokido, Daigo, Fuudo, and LeShar. However, this required sidelining Akira, who is signed to REJECT and was loaned to Hiroshima Team iXA, while LeShar was loaned in from DRX.

Under the new rules, REJECT would likely be unable to replicate this setup, as they would not meet the requirement of having four eligible signed players before loaning in LeShar. That said, the reduced age limit now allows them to field Hinao, who qualified for Capcom Cup at just 14 years old.

Outside Japan, the impact will also be felt. In SFL Europe, Ninjas in Pyjamas have loaned both Big Bird and AngryBird for the past two seasons, winning titles in both. Going forward, teams will only be able to loan one of the two.

This creates an interesting dilemma for the Birds, who traditionally compete together. Will REJECT expand into the European league, or will the two players agree to compete on separate teams?

There is also an added layer of intrigue, as Big Bird and AngryBird are set to face REJECT at the upcoming Street Fighter League World Championship, raising questions around optics and competitive safeguards.

Overall, most teams should be able to adapt smoothly, as many already operate within these constraints. Still, the rule changes mark a significant shift in how Street Fighter League is structured.

With these updates now in place for Japan, the launch of SFL Asia on the horizon, and similar changes expected globally, the evolution of SFL across regions will be one of the most compelling storylines to watch going forward.