As the final group stage match approaches, fans of the Japan national football team are grappling with travel and accommodation arrangements. Japan's advancement to the knockout stage will depend on their final group ranking, which determines the host city for their first match. If they finish third, fans will need to monitor results from other groups, complicating their plans. Local supporters are struggling to finalize flights and accommodations, while Japanese municipalities are facing challenges in organizing group viewing events.
The Japanese team will face Sweden in their final group match on June 26 at 8 a.m. KST. This tournament features an expanded format with 48 teams, up from 32, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the best eight third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), if Japan finishes first in their group, the Round of 32 will likely take place in Monterrey, Mexico. If they finish second, Houston, Texas, is the probable location. A third-place finish could lead to one of five cities: Boston, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, or Mexico City.
The challenge lies in the fact that the venues will only be determined after all group rankings are finalized. While a first or second-place finish narrows down the options, a third-place finish requires waiting for results from other groups. This uncertainty makes it difficult for fans to secure accommodations and flights.
According to the Nikkei, Megumi Masuda, a 63-year-old housewife from Hyogo Prefecture, plans to watch all three of Japan's group matches with her sister and daughter. She has already purchased conditional tickets for the knockout stage in case Japan advances. To prepare for a first or second-place finish, she has made provisional reservations for accommodations near Monterrey and Houston that allow free cancellations. However, if Japan finishes third, she will have to choose from five potential host cities, leaving her without a fixed lodging plan. "It's hard to finalize transportation like flights until the last minute," she said, expressing concern about sold-out flights and rising prices.
The uncertainty surrounding the schedule has also complicated preparations for group viewing events in Japan. Organizing public viewings with large screens requires coordination with police and fire departments, but the timing for the Round of 32 is still undecided. If Japan finishes first, the match will be held at 10 a.m. JST on June 30; if they finish second, it will be at 2 a.m. on the same day. A third-place finish could lead to five different match times, depending on other group results. Abiko City in Chiba Prefecture, the hometown of Keito Nakamura, who scored against the Netherlands, held a public viewing during the group stage but has yet to decide on the Round of 32. A city official told the Nikkei, "We will work with relevant agencies to push for public viewing as soon as the rankings are confirmed."
Amid concerns about accommodations and schedules, discussions about potential matchups are heating up. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, if Japan finishes first, they could face Morocco; if second, Brazil; and if third, France. Among fans, opinions vary: some argue that finishing second is preferable since Japan has previously beaten Brazil in a friendly and the travel would be easier, while others believe that Japan's positive memories from their training camp in Monterrey make finishing first more desirable.
However, the players are distancing themselves from these calculations. Team captain Ko Itakura stated, "There are many scenarios, but it's realistically impossible to adjust our ranking for a desired matchup. We need to focus on winning every match." Veteran Yuto Nagatomo echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of advancing as the top team, saying, "It's crucial that we win based on the football we've built, regardless of who our opponent is in the knockout stage." Forward Daizen Maeda added, "The only thing that matters is winning against Sweden."
Japan's experience at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they defeated Germany but struggled against Costa Rica, lingers in their minds. With that memory fresh, the team's priority remains securing a victory against Sweden rather than contemplating potential matchups. The expanded World Cup format offers more opportunities for teams, but it also leaves fans with the last-minute challenge of finalizing flights and accommodations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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