Japan's national soccer team initially trained at Tigres UANL's facility in Monterrey, Mexico, but switched to a new venue on June 4 after concerns over poor pitch conditions emerged [1, 2, 3, 4]. Videos shared widely on Mexican social media showed visible wear, an uneven surface, patches of dirt, and holes in the pitch used by Japan on June 3, prompting worries about player safety and injury risks [1, 2, 3].
The team relocated their practice sessions from Tigres UANL's training ground to El Barrial, the training facility of Tigres' local rival, C.F. Monterrey, also within the Monterrey metropolitan area [1, 2, 3, 4]. Japan’s delegation has not formally confirmed the reasons for the change, but players expressed their concerns openly. Midfielder Takefusa Kubo said, "The original pitch was really not good. The ground was hard, and there were holes. It was not an ideal field. We had to change because players started worrying about injuries and were hesitant to fully commit to each challenge" [4].
Japan plans to depart Monterrey and arrive at their official World Cup training camp in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Their Group F matches are set to be played across Texas and Monterrey, with the first game against the Netherlands scheduled for June 14 in Arlington, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4]. The second match, on June 20, will take place at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, the home stadium of C.F. Monterrey, against Tunisia. Japan will conclude group play against Sweden on June 25, returning to Arlington, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4].
