Miyagi Stadium (宮城スタジアム, Miyagi Sutajiamu), also known as the Q&A Stadium Miyagi (キューアンドエースタジアムみやぎ, Kyūandoēsutajiamu Miyagi) for sponsorship reasons, is an athletic and football stadium in the town of Rifu in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The stadium's capacity is 49,133. The crescent-shaped roof extending past the edge of the stadium is meant to evoke images of Date Masamune, a daimyō of Mutsu Province, which included the present-day Miyagi Prefecture. From 1 April 2014, the stadium was known as the Hitomebore Stadium Miyagi (ひとめぼれスタジアム宮城, Hitomebore Sutajiamu Miyagi), named after the main variety of rice produced in the prefecture, as the naming rights were acquired by the Miyagi Prefecture headquarters of Zen-Noh. The stadium adopted its current name on 1 April 2020 due to a sponsorship agreement with the Q&A Corporation.[1]

Miyagi Stadium
Map
Full nameQ&A Stadium Miyagi
Former namesMiyagi Stadium (2000–2014)
Hitomebore Stadium Miyagi (2014–2020)
LocationRifu, Miyagi, Japan
OwnerMiyagi Prefecture
Capacity49,133
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1996
OpenedMarch 2000
Tenants
Vegalta Sendai
Mynavi Sendai Ladies
Sony Sendai FC
Japan National Football Team

Miyagi Stadium hosted three matches in the 2002 World Cup, and also hosted the 56th National Sports Festival of Japan in 2001. It is one of the planned football venues for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[2]

In addition, Miyagi Stadium also hosted six matches at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and it would become the first stadium (and to date the only stadium) to have hosted matches at both a men's FIFA World Cup and a women's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Vegalta, Mynavi and Sony Sendai only use here occasionally.

The football field is surrounded by a nine-lane track. A large video screen and scoreboard is installed in the northern end.

2002 FIFA World Cup matches

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Date Team 1 Res. Team 2 Round
9 June 2002

Mexico  

2–1   Ecuador Group G
12 June 2002

Sweden  

1–1   Argentina Group F
18 June 2002

Japan  

0–1   Turkey Round of 16

2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup matches

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Date Team 1 Res. Team 2 Round
19 August 2012

New Zealand  

2–1   Switzerland Group A

Japan  

4–1   Mexico
22 August 2012

Mexico  

2–0   Switzerland

Japan  

2–2   New Zealand
27 August 2012

Germany  

3–0   United States Group D

Norway  

4–1   Argentina Group C

Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics

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Women's

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Date Team 1 Res. Team 2 Round
21 July 2021

China PR  

0–5   Brazil Group F

Zambia  

3–10   Netherlands
24 July 2021

China PR  

4–4   Zambia

Netherlands  

3–3   Brazil
27 July 2021

New Zealand  

0–2   Sweden Group G

Chile  

0–1   Japan Group E

Men's

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Date Team 1 Res. Team 2 Round
28 July 2021

Germany  

1–1   Ivory Coast Group D

Australia  

0–2   Egypt Group C
31 July 2021

Spain  

5–2

(a.e.t.)

  Ivory Coast Quarter-finals

Other notable events

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Besides the game against Turkey, Miyagi Stadium has hosted three friendly matches involving the Japan national team: A 1–1 draw against Slovakia on 11 June 2000, a 5–4 victory against Honduras on 7 September 2005, and a 2–4 loss against Uruguay on 14 August 2013, a 2–0 victory against El Salvador on 9 June 2019. J. League club Vegalta Sendai has held home games at Miyagi Stadium, and pop-music group SMAP has held two outdoor concerts at the venue as well. Also Nogizaka46 has held two days concert at the venue in 2018 for their Summer Tour.

Access

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Rifu Station is the closest train station, although it is nearly 3.5 kilometers from the stadium. For major events, bus transportation is usually available from Izumi-Chūō and Sendai Stations. Before the World Cup, a spur from the Sanriku Expressway was built, which provided easier access for travellers by car from Tokyo and other locales.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 宮城スタジアム、新愛称は「キューアンドエースタジアムみやぎ」
  2. ^ "Venue Plan". Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
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38°20′7″N 140°57′2″E / 38.33528°N 140.95056°E / 38.33528; 140.95056