- Address: Kobe
- Country: Japan
- Capacity: 30,000
- Opened: 2001
- Main use: Football, rugby union
- Tenants: INAC Kobe (football), Kobelco Steelers (rugby union), Vissel Kobe (football)
Extra stadium info – NOEVIR Stadium Kobe
The NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, also known as the Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium, opened as the Kobe Wing Stadium with a capacity of 42,000. The construction costs of the venue, which has a retractable roof, were ¥23 billion. The stadium is used for both men’s and women’s football and it is also known as a venue for rugby union. INAC Kobe Leonessa, the Kobelco Steelers and Vissel Kobe use the stadium for home games.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup
The venue named NOEVIR Stadium Kobe was one of the 2002 FIFA World Cup venues. The national football teams of Belgium, Brazil, Nigeria, Russia, Sweden and Tunisia played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup at the venue. Brazil won the tournament after beating Germany in the final. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima scored twice in the final. The Brazilian football star played professional football for Cruzeiro, PSV, FC Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Corinthians.
Andrés Iniesta
In 2018, Vissel Kobe made world headlines when they signed Andrés Iniesta, one of the first athletes with 10 million followers on his main social media page. The national football team of Spain won their first-ever FIFA World Cup title in 2010. They won the world championship for national football teams after Iniesta scored the decisive goal against the Netherlands in South Africa.
Iniesta and FC Barcelona
Andrés Iniesta also won various prestigious domestic and international trophies with the world famous Spanish side FC Barcelona. He won the European championship for football clubs, the UEFA Champions League, four times with the Spanish football giants. He also won the world championship for football clubs, the FIFA Club World Cup, several times with FC Barcelona. Iniesta became one of the highest-paid football players in the world at FC Barcelona. He remained one of the highest-paid football players in the world after signing with Vissel Kobe.
