The Japan national soccer team has started a five-day [1] pre-tournament training camp in Monterrey, Mexico, to acclimate to the region's heat.
This preparation is critical because the team must adapt to extreme weather conditions before the World Cup begins. By training in high temperatures, the squad aims to minimize the physical shock of the environment during official matches.
The team departed Japan on June 2 [2]. Training sessions in Monterrey are designed to counter temperatures that exceed 33C [1]. These measures are intended to ensure the players' bodies can perform at peak capacity despite the heat.
Midfielder Daichi Kamada has joined the squad after completing his duties in the European Conference League final. His arrival marks a full assembly of the team's key players as they enter the final stretch of preparation.
"Because this is a completely different environment from where we usually practice, I think we have to get used to it properly," Kamada said.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu said that the camp would serve as a beneficial preparation for the team. The strategic move to Mexico allows the squad to simulate the atmospheric challenges they will face in the tournament.
Local interest in the team remains high. A reporter for Mexican media said that people in Mexico expect the Japan national team to achieve a historic feat during this competition.
“"Because this is a completely different environment from where we usually practice, I think we have to get used to it properly," Kamada said.”
The decision to hold a heat-adaptation camp in Monterrey suggests that Japan's technical staff views thermal stress as a primary risk factor for player performance. By intentionally exposing the squad to temperatures above 33C, the team is utilizing sports science to trigger physiological adaptations—such as increased sweat rate and plasma volume—that reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and maintain athletic output during the World Cup.
