The Japan men’s national soccer team will hold an open training session at Geodis Park on June 8, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fans can get free tickets to watch the training, which will begin at 5:45 p.m.

“It is an honor to open our stadium to the community and the Japan Men’s National Team as they prepare to kick off their FIFA World Cup 26 schedule,” Nashville SC Chief Business Officer Lindsey Paola said in a release. “2026 is the biggest year for soccer in the United States since the World Cup was last here in 1994, and we cannot wait to share in the experience with fans and families from Nashville and across Tennessee.”

While Nashville will not be hosting games during the World Cup, Japan is using Nashville as its base camp during the tournament. The team will train at the Nashville SC training center in Antioch and reside in Nashville between matches.

“We look forward to welcoming the Japanese Men’s National Team to Nashville this summer and encourage locals and visitors to catch them in action during Community Day,” said Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Japan is a growing international market for Nashville, and this visit not only brings the team to Music City, but also provides an exciting opportunity to host visiting Japanese media and share the stories, hospitality and spirit that make Nashville such a compelling destination. We’re grateful for the strong partnership with Nashville SC and the Mayor’s Office in bringing Community Day to life.”

Japan is ranked No. 18 in the latest FIFA world rankings. It is in Group F, which also consists of the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. Japan will face the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas on June 14, Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on June 20 and Sweden in Arlington on June 25 as it attempts to reach the knockout stage for the third straight time.

The World Cup will take place from June 11-July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This year’s competition is the first to include 48 teams, up from 32 from 1998-2022.

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Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Japan national soccer team to train at Geodis Park ahead of World Cup