International Stadium Yokohama
A 72,327-seat multi-purpose stadium in Yokohama and the home ground of Yokohama F. Marinos.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
International Stadium Yokohama is a large multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The stadium opened in March 1998 and is owned by Yokohama City. It is generally marketed under the sponsored name Nissan Stadium, while International Stadium Yokohama remains the venue's formal and non-commercial name. The naming arrangement reflects the role of Nissan Motor Co. in attaching its brand to one of Japan's most prominent sporting facilities. With 72,327 seats, the venue has the largest seating capacity of any stadium in Japan. Its principal long-term tenant is Yokohama F. Marinos of the J1 League, one of Japan's best-known football clubs. The stadium has also served as a major home venue for international football, rugby, athletics-related programming, ceremonies, concerts and large-scale public events. Its broad field and track configuration allow it to be adapted for both football and rugby while also supporting stage layouts and arena-style concerts. The stadium's international profile was established by its selection for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It hosted three group-stage matches and the final on 30 June 2002, when Brazil defeated Germany. The final gave the venue an enduring place in football history and helped make Yokohama a significant destination for global sporting events. The stadium subsequently became a recurring venue for the FIFA Club World Cup and related intercontinental club competitions, including finals and other high-profile matches across several editions. Its event portfolio expanded beyond football. The venue hosted football matches during the 2020 Summer Olympics, whose competitions were held in 2021 after the Games were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also used during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately hosted the tournament final after the originally selected National Stadium could not be completed in time. These events demonstrated the stadium's ability to accommodate major international competitions in different field sports. The venue is also an important concert site. Japanese acts including B'z, X Japan, AKB48, Momoiro Clover Z and Nogizaka46 have performed there, while South Korean act TVXQ and its Japanese activities have used the stadium for large-scale tours. Concert configurations typically place temporary seating on the athletics track and playing surface. The combination of capacity, transport access and a recognizable sporting identity has made the stadium one of Japan's most prominent outdoor music venues. The commercial identity of the stadium has changed through periodic naming-rights negotiations. Nissan initially announced in 2009 that it would not renew its naming agreement when the then-current contract expired in February 2010, but negotiations with Yokohama City resulted in a further agreement. The city subsequently renewed the arrangement in 2013, 2015 and 2021. The latest cited agreement covered 1 March 2021 through 28 February 2026. Accordingly, the venue is best understood as a civic stadium whose public identity and international history extend beyond its corporate naming sponsor.
History
International Stadium Yokohama opened in March 1998 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It was developed as a major municipal stadium capable of hosting football, rugby, athletics-related events, concerts and other large gatherings. The venue has 72,327 seats, making it the largest-capacity stadium in Japan. Although the facility's formal name is International Stadium Yokohama, it has commonly operated under the Nissan Stadium name through a naming-rights agreement with Nissan Motor Co. The stadium's first major international football milestone came with the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It hosted three group-stage matches and the tournament final on 30 June 2002. Brazil defeated Germany in the final, and the match established the Yokohama venue as a globally recognized football stadium. The facility later became a recurring host for the intercontinental club championship and the FIFA Club World Cup. It hosted the final or other matches in multiple editions, including competitions held in 2002, 2005–2008, 2011–2012 and 2015–2016. The stadium's regular sporting role is anchored by Yokohama F. Marinos, its J1 League home tenant. It has also hosted international matches involving Japan and other national teams, as well as matches associated with the Kirin Cup, Kirin Challenge Cup, the J.League World Challenge and the EuroJapan Cup. Its scale and adaptable configuration have allowed it to function as both a domestic football ground and a venue for high-profile international fixtures. The venue broadened its international sporting role in the 2010s. It was used for football during the 2020 Summer Olympics, with the Games taking place in 2021 after their postponement. In rugby, it hosted matches during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and ultimately staged the final. International rugby matches at the stadium included notable player milestones and debuts, reinforcing its status as a major venue for the sport in Japan. Concerts are another major component of the stadium's history. B'z became the first Japanese musical act identified in the source material to use the venue, performing there in 1999 and returning for further shows. X Japan held two consecutive concerts in August 2010. AKB48 became the first female act to hold a concert at the stadium in 2013, followed by Momoiro Clover Z. TVXQ performed there in 2013 and later used the stadium for a three-night run in June 2018 through its Japanese activities. Nogizaka46 held anniversary concerts there in May 2022. These events commonly use temporary arena seating and convert the track and field area for audience and production requirements. The venue's commercial naming history has been managed through successive agreements between Yokohama City and Nissan. Nissan announced in August 2009 that it would not renew the then-existing contract when it expired on 28 February 2010. Negotiations nevertheless produced a continuation. Yokohama City announced another three-year renewal beginning in March 2013, followed by a five-year renewal from March 2016 and a further five-year renewal from March 2021 through February 2026. The arrangement illustrates how the stadium combines a public civic identity with a long-running corporate sponsorship brand. Today, the stadium remains an active multi-purpose venue serving Yokohama F. Marinos, international sports, concerts, corporate events and civic programming. Its World Cup final history, large capacity and continuing event calendar make it one of Japan's most prominent stadium facilities.
- 2022
Nogizaka46 anniversary concerts
[1]Nogizaka46 held concerts at the stadium for its tenth debut anniversary in May.
- 2021
Olympic football venue
[1]The stadium hosted football matches for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were held in 2021 after postponement.
- 2019
Rugby World Cup final
[1]The stadium hosted the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup after the originally selected National Stadium could not be completed in time.
- 2013
Female-act concert milestone
[1]AKB48 became the first female act identified in the source material to hold a concert at the stadium; Momoiro Clover Z followed later that year.
- 2010
X Japan performs two consecutive nights
[1]X Japan held concerts on 14 and 15 August, among the venue's notable large-scale music events.
- 2005
FIFA Club World Cup era begins
[1]The venue became part of the expanded FIFA Club World Championship and later FIFA Club World Cup hosting cycle.
- 2002
FIFA World Cup venue
[1]The stadium hosted three group-stage matches and the FIFA World Cup final, in which Brazil defeated Germany on 30 June.
- 1999
First major concert use
[1]Japanese rock band B'z became the first musical act identified in the source material to use the stadium for a concert.
- 1998
Stadium opens
[1]International Stadium Yokohama opened in March as a large multi-purpose stadium in Yokohama.
Products and positioning
A civic, high-capacity Japanese stadium positioned as a premier venue for football, rugby, international tournaments, concerts and other large public events.
Sports venue service · 1998
Football match hosting
The stadium's core offering is the presentation of domestic and international football matches. It is the home stadium of Yokohama F. Marinos and has hosted FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Olympic, national-team and other international fixtures.
Sports venue service · 1998
Rugby match hosting
The venue accommodates major rugby matches using its large field and spectator infrastructure. Its rugby history includes the 2019 Rugby World Cup, culminating in the tournament final.
Entertainment venue service · 1999
Concert and entertainment venue
The stadium can be reconfigured for outdoor concerts and other mass-audience entertainment. Temporary seating is often placed on the track and playing surface, enabling major domestic and international artists to use the facility.
Events and hospitality · 1998
Corporate and civic events
Beyond sport and music, the stadium provides a large public venue for corporate functions, community activities, ceremonies and other events requiring substantial seating and adaptable open space.
Brand decisions
2021
Further five-year naming-rights renewalStrategyBackground
Yokohama City and Nissan renewed the sponsorship arrangement after the previous five-year contract expired.
Action taken
The parties agreed to continue the Nissan Stadium name from 1 March 2021 through 28 February 2026.
Aftermath
The venue retained its established corporate identity while remaining a city-owned public stadium.
Total naming-rights fee. 600 million yen total, equivalent to 120 million yen per year (1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026)
2015
Five-year naming-rights renewalStrategyBackground
The existing naming agreement was approaching its February 2016 end date.
Action taken
Yokohama City renewed Nissan's naming rights for five years from 1 March 2016 through 28 February 2021.
Aftermath
The stadium continued to operate publicly as Nissan Stadium.
Annual naming-rights fee. 150 million yen per year (1 March 2016 to 28 February 2021)
2013
Three-year naming-rights renewalStrategyBackground
Yokohama City owned the stadium and negotiated the continuation of Nissan's naming rights.
Action taken
The city renewed the naming contract for three years from 1 March 2013 through 29 February 2016.
Aftermath
The Nissan Stadium commercial identity continued without interruption during the renewal period.
Annual naming-rights fee. 150 million yen per year (1 March 2013 to 29 February 2016)
2009
Nissan initially declined to renew naming rightsStrategyBackground
Nissan announced that it would not renew its naming-rights agreement when the then-current contract expired at the end of February 2010.
Action taken
The company and Yokohama City continued discussions, ultimately reaching a further agreement that preserved the Nissan Stadium name.
Aftermath
The planned withdrawal did not result in a lasting change to the stadium's commonly used sponsored name.
Sources2 sources
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