Saitama Stadium
The largest football-specific stadium in Japan, where the Samurai Blue chase World Cup dreams.
via Wikipedia: Saitama Stadium 2002 · see source
Saitama Stadium, officially known as Saitama Stadium 2002 (埼玉スタジアム2002), is a football stadium located in Midori-ku, Saitama, Japan. It is the largest football-specific stadium in Japan and one of the largest in Asia. Built by Azusa Sekkei for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, construction was completed in September 2001. The stadium holds 63,700 people, though league games have a reduced capacity of 62,300 for segregation reasons. It is the home stadium of the Japan national football team for almost every FIFA World Cup qualifying match and has hosted the semi-finals of both the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- Saisuta
- Location
- Midori-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
- Opened
- 1 October 2001
- Public transit
- Saitama Rapid Railway Line at Urawa-Misono
- Owner
- Saitama Prefecture
- Operator
- Saitama Prefectural Park Association
- Surface
- Grass
- Full name
- Saitama Stadium 2002
Lore & Background
Saitama Stadium was built to host matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with construction completed in September 2001. During that tournament, it hosted four matches, including co-host Japan's first match against Belgium. The stadium quickly became the home ground for the Japan national team in almost every FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Between 2005 and 2007, Urawa Red Diamonds' local derby rival Omiya Ardija also hosted matches here alongside Urawa Komaba due to expansion of its home stadium. The stadium even appeared in the remastered version of the anime Captain Tsubasa, where it was mostly shown as the main stadium for the middle school tournament. Its role as a national team fortress was cemented through years of crucial qualifiers, with the 63,700-seat bowl creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides.
Reader's Guide
Getting to Saitama Stadium requires planning. From Tokyo station, allow 45 minutes by train plus a 1.2 km walk on foot, or 40 minutes by car. The nearest station is Urawa-Misono, a 20-minute walk away. A 2017 survey found that on an international matchday with typically 60,000 attendance, 60.5% (36,000) arrived by railway, 25.2% (15,000) drove cars, 8.7% (5,200) took intra-prefecture shuttle buses, and 5.6% (3,300) arrived by bicycle, motorbikes, or on foot. For J. League club matches with typically 40,000 attendance, railway usage dropped sharply to 40.6% while all other modes increased. The stadium's structural design includes a building area of 54,420 m2, total floor area of 62,674 m2, covered area of 29,000 m2, and a stand inclination of maximum 30 degrees. Currently, J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds use this stadium for home games.
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