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Japan abandons Tigres training ground in Monterrey over poor pitch conditions

Japan's national team has relocated its World Cup training base in Monterrey from UANL Tigres' facility to rivals Rayados de Monterrey's El Barrial ground after players found the original pitch uneven and scarred by patches of dirt.

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Japan abandons Tigres training ground in Monterrey over poor pitch conditions
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Japan’s national team has abandoned the UANL Tigres training facility in Monterrey and moved to El Barrial, the home ground of Rayados de Monterrey, after players encountered an uneven pitch riddled with patches of dirt during their session on Wednesday, 4 June 2026.

The Japanese delegation confirmed the switch but did not offer a specific explanation for the decision. The Tigres facility had been used for Japan’s first training session in Mexico on 3 June, ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. Thursday’s session was rescheduled to take place at El Barrial — a ground that carries added significance as the home of Tigres’ fiercest local rivals.

The venue change quickly spread across Mexican social media, generating widespread criticism directed at UANL Tigres over the state of their pitch.

Japan’s official World Cup training camp will be based in Nashville, Tennessee, where the squad is due to arrive on 8 June. The Samurai Blue open their Group C campaign against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas, on 14 June, before facing Tunisia in Monterrey on 20 June and rounding off the group stage against Sweden in Texas on 25 June.

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