TOKYO, Jan 24 (News On Japan) - The J1 League, Japan's top level of professional soccer, has announced the schedule and venues for its opening matches, with the new season kicking off on the 23rd of February at Hiroshima's new stadium where Sanfrecce Hiroshima will face Urawa Reds.
This season, J1 has expanded to include 20 teams, an increase of two teams from the previous season. While the matchups for the first round, set to take place from the 23rd to the 25th of next month, had already been determined, the J.League has now disclosed the specific dates and locations for each match.
On the 23rd, two matches will feature the "Original 10" teams that have been part of the league since its inception. The season will commence with a match between Sanfrecce and Reds at the new stadium in Hiroshima, starting at 2 PM. At 6 PM, Nagoya Grampus will go head-to-head with Kashima Antlers in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The following day, on the 24th, six matches are scheduled, and two more will be played on the 25th. On the 25th, the National Stadium will host a match between Tokyo Verdy, who have returned to J1 for the first time in 16 seasons as the league's inaugural champions, and Yokohama F. Marinos, reminiscent of the J.League's opening match in 1993.
NHK is set to broadcast the opening match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Urawa Reds on the 23rd on its General TV channel.
Source: NHK
