Stadium
Completed in 1997 in readiness for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™,
the International Stadium Yokohama lies 6km to the north of the
city centre. With a capacity of 72,370, it is the country's
largest ground and was the setting of the last FIFA World Cup final
between Brazil and Germany and hosted matches during the FIFA
Confederations Cup in 2001. Although there is some distance between
the stands and the pitch, the stadium has excellent facilities for
television and will play host to three matches during the FIFA Club
World Championship including the final.
Club
Yokohama is considered one of Japan's more football
friendly cities and until 1998 when the Flugels were forced by
bankruptcy into joining crosstown rivals Marinos, the city was home
to two popular J-League sides. Last season Yokohama F. Marinos
claimed their second successive title and are now in the running
for the AFC Champions League, which, if they won, would give them
home advantage at the FIFA Club World Championship.
