Japan World Cup training issues have already caused some early problems with the national team’s preparation camp in Mexico ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The issue started as soon as Japan landed for their pre-tournament training. The team led by head coach Hajime Moriyasu started their training on a training pitch of Tigres UANL from the city of Monterrey. The field condition was less than expected, however, since there had been a great deal of rough weather recently, it was not suitable for high level preparation.
The team was driven to a second choice – a pitch which had been used by the under-19 Japanese team. This was a temporary solution, which was not quite to the standard that was expected for the senior international training level.
Soon Japan was forced to make a third change. The team headed to another training camp, the one of Club de Futbol Monterrey. This was an improvement but it caused instability in the early preparation stage because of the frequent changes.
Although the logistics were tough, technical director Masakuni Yamamoto told the reporters that the players were composed and focused. From a management point of view, it’s a sign of a high level of discipline within the team, even under less than optimal circumstances.
The situation in Japan is only one of the problems that arise with the tournament build up off home turf. The consistency of training infrastructure is an important factor in tactical preparation, injury prevention and team rhythm.
Japan will try to settle their routine as they head to Dallas against the Netherlands on their first World Cup game. As time is short before kickoff, the continuity of training is an important concern. For a team that runs on discipline and structure, having a solid base will be just as crucial as getting ready tactically.
