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Japan’s goal of hosting another FIFA World Cup has spurred plans to increase the seating at Tokyo’s National Stadium to 80,000, a source with knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
The country’s largest mobile carrier, NTT Docomo Inc, set to lead the venue’s operation once it is privatized next April, revealed its plan to add pitch-side seating at the stadium, which currently seats around 68,000.
The Tokyo Olympics’ and Paralympics’ main venue was designed to be renovated following the games as an 80,000-seat stadium specifically for football and rugby, but a policy change has left its athletics track and original capacity intact.
“We have a plan to set up the number of seats, including some temporary ones, required for the World Cup,” NTT Docomo said.
The Japan Football Association has a long-term plan to stage the World Cup as a solo host by 2050 after co-hosting the 2002 tournament with South Korea.
Currently, FIFA requires the main venue at the 2034 World Cup to hold 80,000 for the opening game and final. It also mandates 60,000-seat semifinal venues.
NTT Docomo is also considering installing a giant screen, which is expected to be one of Japan’s biggest.
Three groups proposed privatization plans for the venue, and on June 3, the Japan Sport Council named the one that includes NTT Docomo, football’s J-League, constructor Maeda Corp. and real estate firm SMFL Mirai Partners Co Ltd, as its preferred bidder, after examining the different bidders’ respective operating plans and costs.
The government proposed shouldering up to 1 billion yen in annual costs, but none of the bidders asked for public funds. The winning bidders offered 52.8 billion yen for a 30-year operating license and vowed to turn a profit.
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Japan already hosted it in 2002… other countries should be given a chance to host it! But corrupt FIFA officials will receive their “ gifts “ from the Japanese organizers and award Japan the chance to be host!
@Jim
Japanese gifts cannot match Chinese gifts in value.
We are talking gold nuggets shaped as moon cakes here.
“”Japan’s goal of hosting another FIFA World Cup has spurred plans to increase the seating at Tokyo’s National Stadium””
After what has happened during the last Olympics??? all the bribes and scandals!?
No Thank You.
The government proposed shouldering up to 1 billion yen in annual costs, but none of the bidders asked for public funds.
Finally, bidders that aren’t going to be corrupt with government funds.
Privately funded? Do as you please, bidders!
As for the government………must be so nice to just throw around money that isn’t yours.
How about putting some of that billion into proper child care services or infrastructures?
Great..
GO JAPAN..
If only Japan had built a decent football stadium instead of this multi-purpose thing that puts the fans so far away from the pitch behind the running track that you might as well just stay at home and watch it on TV.
And by hosting this event, Japan hopes to improve its economy like in good old days.
Japan already hosted it in 2002… other countries should be given a chance to host it!
Well, they are talking about hosting it again in 2050, by which time almost half a century will have passed since it co-hosted with Korea, I’m not sure its fair to accuse Japan of hogging it. Especially when there are so many other, better reasons to be super pissed off about the idea of Japan hosting a World Cup.
We just wasted billions on the boondoggle Tokyo Olympics, are about to waste billions more on this stupid Osaka Expo that nobody is going to attend, and now they’ve decided to really go for the “Screw you, Japanese public” trifecta by burning billions more on the gold standard of corrupt, wasteful international sporting events, the World Cup.
Somebody please make this stop. The folks up in Sapporo seem to have figured it out, having torpedoed their government’s idiotic Olympic bid before it had a chance to do any real damage, we need a nation wide version of that.
After Saudi Arabia, the next country in line to host World Cup in AFC territory is China; FIFA desperately wants China in World Cup and if the only way to do it is to award the hosting to China, FIFA will do it.
Please don’t.
I love football and went to matches in 2002, but no thanks.
Tottenham in the English Premier League just built a 60,000 seater. Cost 1.2b GBP. I don’t know how much the stadium in Niigata cost, but I bet it cost a fortune and loses a fortune every year in running costs.
How hot will Japan be in summer in 2050? Would it be another winter break World Cup?
No. Just no.
FIFA is every bit as corrupt as the IOC and, as those above have said, we will see all the same bribery problems we had with the Olympics.
The government should use the money to fund grass roots sports: provide the kids/residents with affordable, local facilities where they can develop their talents and love of sport.
If only Japan had built a decent football stadium instead of this multi-purpose thing that puts the fans so far away from the pitch behind the running track that you might as well just stay at home and watch it on TV.
The elephant permanently in the room is that big Olympics Sports like athletics and swimming do not regularly attract fans, making building huge stadia for them a vast waste of money. This is then cranked up to the max for sports with probably under 50,000 participants worldwide, like competitive kayaking.
My kids went to a JHS with no swimming pool. It used to have one but they closed it ten years ago due to lack of funds. The local leisure pool I took my elder kids too has also since closed due to lack of refurbishment funds. It was only open in summer, but was always full during the holidays.
Both Vancouver and Toronto are projected to be in the red millions and millions of Canadian dollarettes for the 2026 World Cup.
Before they say yes, they need to come to a solution they never got to during the Olympics 2020, as they never quite happened. Where are they going to lodge so many people at once in Tokyo?
Would be nice if they tried to lose the track around the pitch, bring the supporters closer to the pitch it makes a much better atmosphere and adds much more to games when the fans are closer to the players..
I love football and went to matches in 2002, but no thanks.
I was here for it in 2002 too.
What freaks me out reading this article is to think that I was a young man in his 20s during that one, but will be well into my 70s by the time this one rolls around if they actually go through with it.
Time sure flies, 2002 doesn’t feel that long ago….
For the sake of the children….. NO!
Would be nice if they tried to lose the track around the pitch
They are complete mood hoovers in football grounds, and almost every J-League stadium in Japan has one. Every stadium I went to at the 2002 WC had one. Totally ruins the experience and not holding a World Cup final or even a group game in such a place should be one of FIFA’s stipulations. Fans should be close to the action, almost on top of the players.
I could understand it if Japan was actually any good at athletics.
As the WC is awarded 4 to 6 years in advance, how about expanding it after getting it awarded. Qatar build the majority of its stadions after getting the worldcup
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