On November 18, before the 6th round of the 18-team qualifier match between the Chinese national team and Japan, both Japanese media outlet Hochi and South Korean media outlet Chosun Sports reported that the 60,000 tickets for the Xiamen home ground were sold out. They warned the Japanese team to be cautious of the significant support from Chinese fans.
Facing China in Xiamen as guests is the first time the Japanese team has visited China in 9 years. The last visit was during the 2015 East Asian Cup, where they drew 1-1 with China. Japanese media are concerned that the strong fan base in China could put pressure on the Japanese team, especially since the Xiamen Egret Stadium can accommodate about 60,000 fans, and all tickets have been sold out.
Furthermore, Japanese media noted that the Chinese team’s morale has significantly improved after securing two consecutive victories. In contrast, the Japanese team only arrived in Xiamen on the 16th, giving them one less day of rest compared to the Chinese team, putting them at a physical disadvantage.
The report by Chosun Sports pointed out that Chinese fans’ support for their team against Japan is almost fanatical. There were instances of Chinese fans using smartphones to secretly photograph Japanese team interviews, indicating a hostile attitude towards the Japanese team.
Japanese media also mentioned past unpleasant experiences when playing away matches against China, suggesting that this trip will not be smooth sailing. If the Chinese team suffers a loss or a heavy defeat, the fans’ emotions are likely to become uncontrollable.
