| Keyword | Description |
|---|---|
| World Cup | The biggest soccer tournament in the world, held every four years. |
| Wear | Damage from repeated use. |
| Base camp | A place where a team stays and practices during a tournament. |
Japan’s national soccer team had a challenging start to their World Cup journey. Before setting up base camp in Nashville, Tennessee, they made a stop in Monterrey, Mexico. This visit didn’t go as planned because the practice field at Tigres UANL’s facilities wasn’t in good shape. Players found the field uneven and risky, with holes and patches of dirt. This made the team worry about injuries.
Because of these conditions, Japan moved to another field at the UANL’s School of Medicine, but it also had signs of wear. Finally, the team found better conditions at El Barrial, the training center for Monterrey Rayados. This venue is known to be one of the best in Mexico and is now also used by Tunisia’s team.
Six national teams initially chose Mexico for their base camps, but Iran switched from Arizona to Tijuana, increasing the number to seven. The issue with Japan’s practice field highlighted concerns about Mexico’s readiness to host World Cup teams. Although Japan did not officially blame Tigres UANL, the situation drew attention to the need for better facilities.
Japan will return to Monterrey for their match against Tunisia, which will be a special game as it marks the 1,000th match in World Cup history. This event will take place at Monterrey Stadium, home to the Liga MX team Rayados, which can seat 51,000 fans.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Professional | Profesional |
| Complex | Complejo |
| Soccer | Soccer |
Time to discuss
- Why is it important for sports teams to have good practice facilities?
- How do you think poor field conditions could affect a team’s performance?
- What can countries do to better prepare for large events like the World Cup?
Let’s Write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph
- What challenges did Japan face with their practice fields in Mexico?
- How did Japan solve the problem of unsuitable practice fields?
