Japan Switches Monterrey Training Base From Tigres to Rayados Facility After Poor Pitch Conditions; 6 Days to Kickoff

Japan's national team coaching staff announced on June 5 that the Samurai Blue are switching their pre-tournament training base in Monterrey, Mexico — moving from the Tigres UANL facility to El Barrial, the training complex used by CF Monterrey (Rayados). The move was prompted by unsatisfactory pitch conditions at the Tigres facility: inspections found uneven grass and bare dirt patches on areas of the training surface that were considered unacceptable for a World Cup squad's final preparation sessions. The El Barrial complex offered a higher-quality playing surface meeting Hajime Moriyasu's preparation standards. Japan's Group F campaign begins June 14 in Arlington, Texas (vs Netherlands at AT&T Stadium), followed by Tunisia on June 21 in Guadalajara and Sweden on June 25 in Arlington. The facility switch is a logistical but operationally important move for a side that includes veteran tournament-goers Yuto Nagatomo (fifth World Cup) and Takehiro Tomiyasu alongside the squad selected by Moriyasu on May 15 — which notably omits the injured Kaoru Mitoma. Japan have used Monterrey as a base given its proximity to their Group F matches in Texas and Guadalajara. The switch to Rayados' training complex ensures the Samurai Blue enter their final pre-tournament sessions with top-quality facilities. 6 days to World Cup kickoff at Estadio Azteca.