Japan National Stadium

The National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, is a large and modern place where people come together to watch exciting sports. It opened in 2019 and was built especially for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. During those events, it was called the Olympic Stadium, and it was where important ceremonies and track and field competitions took place.

Today, the stadium is mainly used for association football and rugby union games. Many people visit to cheer for their favorite teams and players. The stadium has a special name because of a sponsor: it is now known as MUFG Stadium.

Planning for this new stadium started in 2012. At first, a famous architect had a design with a unique shape and a retractable roof, but there were concerns about the cost and looks. So, new plans were made, and building finally began in 2016. Now, it stands as one of Tokyo’s most important sports venues.

History

After Tokyo submitted their bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, plans were made to either update or rebuild the National Olympic Stadium, as it would host important events like the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field.

In February 2012, it was decided that the old stadium would be torn down and rebuilt. The design was created by British architect Zaha Hadid, who also designed the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics. However, there were many changes to the design due to cost concerns. The new stadium was finally built and opened in December 2019. It was ready in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, though these events happened behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the stadium has hosted football and rugby games. In 2026, it will be called MUFG Stadium because of a sponsorship deal with the financial group MUFG.

Concerts

The Japan National Stadium has also been a popular venue for large concerts. Many famous musicians and artists have performed there, drawing huge crowds. The stadium's design and size make it perfect for these big events, allowing thousands of fans to enjoy a show together.

International football matches

The Japan National Stadium in Tokyo is a big place where people watch sports. It opened in 2019 and was built for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Since then, it has been used for football and rugby games.

Date	Competition	Team1	Result	Team2	Attendance
6 June 2022	Friendly	Japan	0–1	Brazil	63,638
24 March 2023	Friendly	Japan	1–1	Uruguay	61,855
1 January 2024	Friendly	Japan	5–0	Thailand	61,916
21 March 2024	World Cup qualifier	Japan	1–0	North Korea	59,354
18 November 2025	Friendly	Japan	3–0	Bolivia	53,508
31 May 2026	Friendly	Japan	–	Iceland
5 October 2026	Friendly	Japan	–	TBD

Description

The stadium is special because it uses a lot of wood from Japan to help the environment. The wood comes from all 47 prefectures of Japan, following a tradition from the Meiji Shrine. The design of the roof edges was inspired by the Hōryū-ji and helps keep the inside cool. The roof also has clear solar panels, and rainwater is collected to water the grass and plants. The stadium was built to be easy for everyone to use, with many places for people using wheelchairs and modern toilets.