Saitama Stadium 2002, Football stadium in Midori-ku, Japan
Saitama Stadium 2002 is a football-specific stadium in Midori-ku, Saitama, designed by Azusa Sekkei with a building area of 54,420 m² and a total floor area of 62,674 m². Its stands rise at a maximum inclination of 30 degrees, and the main stand and back stand are only 14 m from the touchline. The surrounding Saitama Stadium 2002 Park holds three sub-grounds and futsal courts.
Designed by Azusa Sekkei, the stadium was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and completed in September 2001. Its first match, on 13 October 2001, was a J1 League game between Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F. Marinos, drawing 60,553 spectators, then a J.League record. During the World Cup it hosted four matches, including Japan's opening game against Belgium and the Brazil–Turkey semifinal.
The Urawa Red Diamonds play their home matches here in front of crowds of several tens of thousands. The Japan national team also uses the venue for important matches and qualifying games.
You can reach the grounds via Urawa Misono Station, from which shuttle buses run on match days several hours before kickoff. The stadium sits within a large park with walkways and green spaces around the stands.
In the summer of 2002 the semifinal between Brazil and Turkey took place here, which the Brazilians won with a single goal. Today information boards inside the stadium recall that evening and the other World Cup matches held here.
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