Nissan Stadium Yokohama

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Lore & Background

International Stadium Yokohama has the highest seating capacity of any stadium in Japan, with a total of 72,327 seats. It hosted three group stage games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the final game between Germany and Brazil was played there on 30 June 2002. The stadium was one of the football venues for the 2020 Summer Olympics. It was a venue for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and eventually hosted the final of the tournament after the originally selected host, National Stadium, was unable to be constructed in time. On 28 August 2009, Nissan Motors announced that they would not renew the contract for the naming rights of the stadium, which expired on 28 February 2010. But negotiations continued with the city, and a new agreement for three more years was completed. On 28 February 2013, Yokohama City renewed the contract for three years from 1 March 2013 until 29 February 2016 in a deal worth 150 million yen a year. On 1 December 2015, Yokohama City renewed the contract for five years from 1 March 2016 until 28 February 2021 in another deal worth 150 million yen a year. On 26 February 2021, Yokohama City renewed the contract for another 5 years from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026 in a deal worth 600 million yen (120 million yen per year).

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide specific stories about the Japan National Team at Nissan Stadium. However, the stadium's history includes the 2002 FIFA World Cup final, where Brazil defeated Germany 2-0 on 30 June 2002. It also hosted three group stage matches of that World Cup. For the 2020 Summer Olympics, the stadium held men's and women's football matches. The stadium's naming rights have been held by Nissan Motors since 2009, with contracts renewed in 2013, 2015, and 2021, the most recent deal worth 600 million yen over five years (120 million yen per year) from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026.

Reader's Guide

The stadium has hosted the FIFA Club World Cup since 2002, first as the European/South American Intercontinental Cup and later the Club World Cup. The first edition held in Yokohama was the match between Real Madrid and Olimpia. In 2005, the old Intercontinental Cup was replaced by the new World Championship involving football teams, the FIFA Club World Cup. One of the venues, including the final, from 2005 to 2008, from 2011 to 2012, and from 2015 to 2016 editions was the International Stadium Yokohama. It has also hosted music events: B'z first used the stadium in 1999, then in 2002, 2008, and 2013. X Japan performed two consecutive nights on 14–15 August 2010, with attendance estimated at 140,000. AKB48 held a concert on 8 June 2013, followed by Momoiro Clover Z on 4 August 2013. TVXQ performed on 17 and 18 August 2013, with attendance estimated at 150,000. Tohoshinki announced three shows at Nissan Stadium as a grand finale of the tour Begin Again, becoming the only foreign artists to perform at the venue twice, and performed three consecutive days on 8, 9, and 10 June 2018, with attendance estimated at 225,000. Nogizaka46 held their group 10th debut anniversary concert on May 14–15, 2022. Notable football matches include the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Intercontinental Cup, 2005–2008 FIFA Club World Championships, 2011–2012 FIFA Club World Cups, 2015–2016 FIFA Club World Cups, Kirin Cup/Kirin Challenge Cup, 2019 J.League World Challenge, 2019 EuroJapan Cup, and football at the 2020 Summer Olympics (men's and women's tournaments). International rugby matches were also held, including a match where Asaeli Ai Valu, Kazuki Himeno, Fetuani Lautaimi, Sione Teaupa, Wimpie van der Walt (all Japan), and Matt Philip (Australia) made their international debuts, and Ben McCalman (Australia) earned his 50th test cap. Another match saw Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) earn his 50th test cap, and Sekope Kepu (Australia) become the ninth Australian to earn his 100th test cap.

Did You Know?

• The stadium has the highest seating capacity in Japan at 72,327 seats.
• It hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Brazil on 30 June 2002.
• The stadium hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup final after the originally selected host, National Stadium, could not be constructed in time.
• Nissan's naming rights contract was renewed multiple times, most recently in 2021 for five years at 600 million yen total.
• X Japan performed two nights in August 2010 with an estimated attendance of 140,000.