静岡スタジアム・エコパ (Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium)

The Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium in Fukuroi, Shizuoka is a sports stadium used primarily for football. It is actually merely the centerpiece of the larger Ogasayama Sports Park which extends into Kakegawa. It was opened in 2001 and it played host to some matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/South Korea. 

ジュビロ磐田 (Jubilo Iwata)

Jubilo Iwata is a professional association football team currently playing in the J. League Division 1, based in Iwata, Shizuoka. The term “Jubilo” means “joy” in Spanish and Portuguese. They play at the Yamaha Stadium and their neighbor, Shimizu S-Pulse, is the team’s biggest rival. This particular match-up is known as the “Shizuoka Derby”. They are one of the most successful teams in the J. League, having won three league titles and thrice they finished as runner-ups. They hold the distinction of being the country’s most successful team in international club football, making three successive appearances in the Asian Club Cup, being champions once and runner-ups twice.

清水エスパルス (Shimizu S-Pulse)

The Shimizu S-Pulse is a professional association football club based in Shimizu, Shizuoka. They currently compete in the J.League Division 1 and is one of the youngest professional teams in Japan, formed only in 1991. They have recorded an average end of season placing of 6.8, which places them fourth behind Kashima Antlers, Yokohama F. Marinos, and prefectural rivals Jubilo Iwata.

アルビレックス新潟 (Albirex Niigata)

Albirex Niigata is a Japanese J-League Division 1 football team. Despite the club’s relative youth, only joining the J. League in 1999, they are one of the best supported teams in the division. In 2003, they attracted the best average crowd in the country of over 30000. They were also the first ever club in Japan to record an average gate of over 40,000.

名古屋グランパス (Nagoya Grampus)

The Nagoya Grampus, formerly known as the Nagoya Grampus Eight, are a football club based in that play in the J. League. Based in Nagoya, Aichi and originally founded as the company team of the Toyota Motor Corp., it shares its home games between the Mizuho Athletic Stadium and the Toyota Stadium. It is one of the only five teams that have competed in the J. League top flight every year since its inception in 1993.

宮城スタジアム (Miyagi Stadium)

The Miyagi Stadium in Rifu, Miyagi is an athletic stadium with a capacity of 49,133. The crescent-shaped roof extending past the edge of the stadium is meant to evoke images of Date Masaume, the Daimyo of Mutsu Province. It hosted several matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/South Korea.