Kashima Soccer Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Before the creation of the J. League, Kashima's forerunner, Sumitomo Steel S.C., played at the nearby Sumitomo Steel plant's athletic grounds. In 2025, e-commerce company Mercari, the owner of the Kashima Antlers since 2019, acquired the naming rights to the stadium and gave it the "nickname" Mercari Stadium, by which it would be referred in matches and events, while the official name remained unchanged. The stadium hosted three matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2023, the girl group Hinatazaka46 released the music video for "Tomo yo, Ichibanboshi da", filmed primarily at the stadium.

In Their Own Story

Kashima Soccer Stadium was selected as a venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosting three matches. It also hosted football matches during the 2020 Olympic Games. The stadium's current nickname, Mercari Stadium, came about in 2025 when Mercari, which has owned the Kashima Antlers since 2019, acquired the naming rights. The official name remained unchanged, but the nickname is used in matches and events.

Reader's Guide

Kashima Soccer Stadium has a capacity of 40,728. It is located in the city of Kashima, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The stadium is the home of J1 League club Kashima Antlers. For the 2002 FIFA World Cup, it hosted three matches. It also hosted football at the 2020 Olympic Games. In 2023, the girl group Hinatazaka46 filmed the music video for "Tomo yo, Ichibanboshi da" primarily at the stadium. The stadium is currently known as Mercari Stadium for sponsorship reasons, a nickname acquired by Mercari in 2025.

Did You Know?

• The stadium is currently known as Mercari Stadium for sponsorship reasons, a nickname acquired in 2025 by e-commerce company Mercari, which has owned the Kashima Antlers since 2019.
• Before the J. League, Kashima's forerunner, Sumitomo Steel S.C., played at the nearby Sumitomo Steel plant's athletic grounds.
• Kashima Soccer Stadium hosted three matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
• In 2023, the girl group Hinatazaka46 filmed the music video for "Tomo yo, Ichibanboshi da" primarily at the stadium.
• The stadium's official name remains Kashima Soccer Stadium, while Mercari Stadium is used as a nickname in matches and events.