Kobe Wing Stadium

Lore & Background

In 1970, Kobe Central Football Stadium opened at the site of the Kobe Keirin Track, becoming the first football stadium in Japan to host night games after floodlights were installed. For the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was renovated with a removable roof and increased capacity, reopening as Kobe Wing Stadium in November 2001 with a capacity of 42,000. After the World Cup, it reopened in 2003 with a reduced capacity of 32,000 and became the home of Vissel Kobe. The stadium hosted four group games of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Naming rights were sold to Next Co., Ltd. in 2007, renaming it Home's Stadium Kobe, and later to Noevir in 2013, becoming Noevir Stadium Kobe.

In Their Own Story

The air was thick with humidity from the nearby Osaka Bay as the Japan National Team took the pitch for a 2006 World Cup qualifier against India. The crowd, a sea of blue samurai flags, erupted as the first chords of 'Kimigayo' echoed under the winged canopy. For many fans, this was more than a match—it was a testament to Kobe's rebirth, a city that had risen from rubble to host the world's greatest players. As the final whistle blew on a 3-0 victory, the stadium's lights reflected off the bay, a beacon of footballing pride. That night, the stands hummed with a quiet electricity—strangers exchanging nods, families folding their banners with ritual care, and the distant clatter of trams ferrying fans back into the neon-lit city.

Reader's Guide

The stadium is located in Misaki Park, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Japan. It is accessible by public transport; check the official website for details. The stadium has a retractable roof and a capacity of 30,132. It hosts football matches for Vissel Kobe and rugby matches for Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was originally opened in 1970 as Kobe Central Football Stadium.
• It was the first football stadium in Japan to have floodlights for night games.
• The stadium was renamed Noevir Stadium Kobe in March 2013 after a naming rights deal.
• It hosted four group stage matches during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.