Estadio Universitario doesn't suit Sweden and Japan at the 2026 World Cup
The 'Volcán' is not fit to host Sweden's and Japan's training sessions ahead of their World Cup matches in Monterrey.
Monterrey is once again under the spotlight — and not for the reasons it hoped. After days of criticism over the condition of several local training pitches, two national teams have now officially pulled out of sessions scheduled at Estadio Universitario, better known as El Volcán, for the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA steps in: Sweden and Japan won’t train at El Volcán
Although FIFA’s official schedule listed Sweden for a training session at the stadium on Saturday, June 13, the plan has been scrapped. The pitch simply isn’t in acceptable condition.
The same applies to Japan, which was set to train there on June 20. Both teams are now expected to move their sessions to El Barrial, the training center where Tunisia is based — though FIFA still needs to finalize that adjustment.
Importantly, the change did not come from the teams. FIFA itself evaluated the field and determined that Tigres’ stadium does not currently meet the required standards.
Monterrey’s venue still under review for upcoming match
Despite the issues, Monterrey is still scheduled to host South Africa vs. South Korea on June 24. FIFA will continue inspecting the pitch to decide whether the match can proceed at the venue.
A pattern of problems: Japan already had issues earlier this month
Japan’s concerns didn’t start today. The team spent June 3–7 in Monterrey for a pre‑World Cup camp and was originally set to train daily at the Tigres Training Center. But the pitch conditions were so poor that they immediately relocated.
Their path over those days:
- Day 1: Moved to the UANL School of Medicine field, which also had subpar conditions.
- Days 2–4: Shifted to El Barrial, where they finally found a playable surface.
- Final session: Returned to the CET, though the field still wasn’t ideal.
The recurring issues have raised questions about Monterrey’s readiness as a World Cup host city — and whether more venue adjustments may be necessary.
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