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Osaka Races to Become F1 'Holy Ground'

Osaka Races to Become F1 'Holy Ground'

OSAKA - Initiatives to turn Osaka into the 'holy ground' of F1 are gaining momentum as discussions around building a new circuit have begun.

On November 20th, the Osaka Motorsports Promotion Council held its first meeting in Osaka City to explore the possibility of hosting F1 Grand Prix races. Experts, including professional driver Juichi Wakisaka, exchanged views on how to bring world-class racing to the city.

Hiroshi Mizohata, Executive Director of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, emphasized the importance of building a solid foundation for motorsport in the region, stating, "Initially, it seemed like we were focusing solely on hosting the event, but without creating a true motorsport hub, the effort to bring F1 here will remain superficial."

Attempts to host an F1 race in Osaka were previously abandoned in 2022 due to logistical challenges at the former Expo site. Over the next year, the council plans to draft a detailed plan to develop a circuit that could serve as a motorsport "holy ground" in Osaka.

Source: MBS

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Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

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Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

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The Asian Games, opening on September 19, will be held without a traditional athletes village, with organizers instead planning to accommodate athletes and officials in container-style housing, a cruise ship and hotels across Nagoya and surrounding prefectures.

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

Japan will face Brazil in the Round of 32 at Houston Stadium at 2:00 a.m. Japan time on June 30, with Hajime Moriyasu’s side seeking the first knockout-stage victory in the country’s World Cup history against the five-time champions and one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams.

In 2006, these teams met for the first time at the world’s biggest football tournament. Back then, you could bet on Brazil to win at odds of 1.28 and hardly worry about the outcome.

Japan delivered their strongest performance of the World Cup so far with a 4-0 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on June 21, moving to four points in Group F and putting themselves in a strong position to reach the knockout stage ahead of their final group match against Sweden.

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Monterrey, Mexico, after holding a mostly closed training session near Nashville, Tennessee, on June 18 as it prepares for a key Group F match against Tunisia on June 20 local time, or June 21 in Japan, at Monterrey Stadium.

Japan's national team continued preparations on June 17 for its World Cup Group F match against Tunisia, holding a largely closed training session near Nashville, Tennessee, ahead of the June 20 fixture, which will be played on June 21 Japan time.

When Japan faces Tunisia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 1 p.m. local time on June 20 (3 a.m. Japan time on June 21), the Samurai Blue will have an opportunity to take a major step toward the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.