As I mentioned in my review of Blue Lock chapter 287, the upcoming chapter titled “Death Game” has been delayed.
Sadly, Igaguri’s time on the field has come to an end as Noel Noa subbed him out, deciding he couldn’t push further.
Despite his exit, Igaguri deserves credit, he stopped Rin twice and even slowed Shidou down with his foul, though it cost him a yellow card.
Meanwhile, Isagi and Kaiser are proving to be an unstoppable duo. Their chemical reaction is on some other level, once again they stopped Rin from scoring what could’ve been the winning goal.
PXG isn’t making it easy either. Their defense, led by Karasu and Chevalier, has formed a prodigy-level partnership that is keeping Isagi and Kaiser from finding the back of the net too.
The match remains locked at 2-2, going back and forth with no clear winner in sight.
In this article, I will go through the new release date of Blue Lock Chapter 288 and a brief recap of the latest chapter as well.
Blue Lock Chapter 288 Release Date & Time
While there has not been any official announcement from Kodansha yet, this release date comes from trusted leaks shared on social media.
Blue Lock chapter 288 is set to be released on December 25, 2025, in Japan at 12:00 AM JST. Interestingly, this date also marks Kaiser’s birthday.
| Time Zone | Release Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Japan Standard Time (JST) | Thursday, 25th December 2024, 12:00 a.m. |
| Pacific Time (PT) | Wednesday, 24th December 2024, 8:00 a.m. |
| Eastern Time (ET) | Wednesday, 24th December 2024, 11:00 a.m. |
| Central European Time (CET) | Wednesday, 24th December 2024, 5:00 p.m. |
| Indian Standard Time (IST) | Wednesday, 24th December 2024, 9:30 p.m. |
Where To Read The Chapter?
To read the upcoming chapter, you can visit Kodansha Manga, the official platform for this series.
Just remember that a subscription is required to access the latest chapters. The platform is only available for USA users, you can use a VPN to access the platform.
When Will Spoilers Arrive?
The spoilers usually arrive 3 days prior to the official date, so most likely Blue Lock Chapter 288 spoilers will arrive on 21st December.
What Happened in Blue Lock Chapter 287
The latest chapter begins with Isagi shocked by the unexpected teamwork between Tabito Karasu and Charles Chevalier.
Their perfect chemistry catches him off guard, and just as Isagi attempts another shot at the goal, PXG’s Zantetsu Tsurugi, playing as a right-winger, intercepts him.
Despite efforts from Isagi and Kaiser to regain possession, Zantetsu delivers the ball to Shidou.
A “Triple Press” led by Raichi, Hiori, and Kiyora, traps Shidou. With no way out, Shidou passes to Rin, signaling that PXG’s geniuses are working together now.
Rin charges toward BM’s goal, backed by Charles and Karasu, while BM’s defense scrambles to stop them.
Charles and Karasu pass the ball back to Shidou, setting him up to score. However, Shidou faces the ultimate disruptor, Igaguri, known for his dirty plays.
While Shidou dribbles past him with ease, Igaguri makes a desperate move, intentionally grabbing Shidou to stop him, earning a yellow card.
Falling mid-play, Shidou still manages to pass the ball to Rin. Just as Rin prepares to score, Isagi and Kaiser step in, delaying his shot and keeping the score tied at 2-2.
After his foul, Igaguri gets substituted by Noel Noa, who firmly tells him he’s reached his limit. Though Igaguri begs for another chance, Noa remains resolute.
Devastated, Igaguri leaves the field in tears, realizing his dream of making the top 23 might be over.
Isagi tries to lift his spirits, praising Igaguri for his contributions to the team and reminding him that his efforts brought BM this far.
What To Expect From Blue Lock Chapter 288
As the chapter ends, Isagi begins analyzing everything that’s happened so far, piecing together PXG’s tactics.
The final panel teases a “death game”, Ness has been sidelined for far too long and I expect him to join in with Isagi and Kaiser.
BM will need every edge they can get if they want to break through PXG’s strategy.
Right now, both teams are in perfect sync, so it’s hard to imagine the match ending in the next chapter.
Realistically, it might wrap up by chapter 289 or 290, which will be released next year.
Isagi needs to figure out how to bypass Charles and Karasu, otherwise, he’ll just keep getting dragged back to defend against Rin and Shidou.
