Yokohama International Stadium

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Lore & Background

The stadium opened in March 1998 and quickly became a landmark for international football. It hosted three group stage matches and the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where Brazil defeated Germany 2–0 on 30 June 2002. The stadium was also a venue for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, stepping in to host the final after the National Stadium could not be completed in time. On 28 August 2009, Nissan Motors announced they would not renew the naming rights contract expiring 28 February 2010, but negotiations continued. A new three-year agreement was completed, and subsequent renewals followed: from 1 March 2013 to 29 February 2016 for 150 million yen a year; from 1 March 2016 to 28 February 2021 for 150 million yen a year; and from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026 for 600 million yen total (120 million yen per year).

In Their Own Story

The stadium has hosted the FIFA Club World Cup since 2002, first as the European/South American Intercontinental Cup and later as the Club World Cup. The first edition held in Yokohama was the match between Real Madrid and Olimpia, where Real were crowned champions. In 2005, the old Intercontinental Cup was replaced by the new FIFA Club World Championship involving more teams and matches. The stadium hosted the final and other matches from 2005 to 2008, from 2011 to 2012, and from 2015 to 2016. For music events, Japanese rock band B'z first used the stadium in 1999, then again in 2002, 2008, and 2013. Heavy metal band X Japan performed two consecutive nights on 14–15 August 2010, with former bass player Taiji joining them both nights—the first and only time since he left the group in 1992. Attendance for both concerts was estimated at 140,000. Japanese girl group AKB48 was the first ever female act to hold a concert at the stadium on 8 June 2013, followed by Momoiro Clover Z on 4 August 2013. South Korean group TVXQ performed on 17 and 18 August 2013 as part of their Time: Live Tour 2013, with attendance estimated at 150,000. TVXQ later announced three shows at Nissan Stadium (total 5) as a grand finale of the tour Begin Again, becoming the only foreign artists to perform at the venue twice, and the only ones in the world to perform three consecutive days at Nissan Stadium on 8, 9, and 10 June 2018, with attendance for those three concerts estimated at 225,000. Nogizaka46 held their group 10th debut anniversary concert on 14–15 May 2022.

Reader's Guide

The stadium is located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It has a total of 72,327 seats, the highest seating capacity of any stadium in Japan. For football matches, the stadium has hosted international FIFA matches including the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and multiple editions of the FIFA Club World Cup (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016). It also hosted Kirin Cup/Kirin Challenge Cup matches, the 2019 J.League World Challenge, and the 2019 EuroJapan Cup. For the 2020 Summer Olympics, it hosted both men's and women's football tournaments. For rugby, it hosted international matches including the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Notable rugby moments include Asaeli Ai Valu, Kazuki Himeno, Fetuani Lautaimi, Sione Teaupa, Wimpie van der Walt (all Japan) and Matt Philip (Australia) making their international debuts, Ben McCalman (Australia) earning his 50th test cap, Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) earning his 50th test cap, and Sekope Kepu (Australia) becoming the ninth Australian to earn his 100th test cap and the first in his position for his country.

Did You Know?

• The stadium has the highest seating capacity of any stadium in Japan, with 72,327 seats.
• It hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Brazil on 30 June 2002.
• It hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup final after the National Stadium was unable to be constructed in time.
• Japanese girl group AKB48 was the first ever female act to hold a concert at the stadium, on 8 June 2013.
• South Korean group TVXQ performed three consecutive days at Nissan Stadium on 8, 9, and 10 June 2018, with attendance estimated at 225,000.