Liga MX embarrassment: Japan ditches Tigres’ facilities after poor pitch conditions ahead of the World Cup

Japan’s national team has already begun preparations for the World Cup in Monterrey, Nuevo León, although there were last-minute changes to their training base.

The Japanese squad arrived in the Sultana of the North on 2 June and was initially scheduled to begin training the following day at the Tigres Training Centre (CET). However, those plans were later altered.

It was subsequently reported that the team would hold its first training session at the School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León after inspections at the CET determined that the pitch was not in optimal condition.

While the session went ahead as planned, the field at the Medicine campus also showed visible signs of wear in several areas. It remains unclear whether Japan will continue training there, return to the CET, or move to another venue for the remainder of its stay in Monterrey.

It is worth noting that, during this initial training session, members of the delegation visited Tigres’ home stadium to assess the condition of the pitch.

Japan is scheduled to train in the Sultana of the North from 3 to 7 June before travelling to Texas for its opening match of the tournament. The team will then return to Nuevo León on 14 June to face Tunisia in what will be the 1,000th match in World Cup history.

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Japan has been drawn into Group F alongside the Netherlands and Sweden, with both of those fixtures set to be played in Arlington.

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