The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11, 2026. The Japanese national team will compete in Group F, starting with a match against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 15, followed by Tunisia in Monterrey and Sweden in Dallas. As the number of supporters planning to attend in person grows, many face the challenge of 'information gathering.' Essential information such as stadium entry rules, transportation, security, ESTA applications, and kickoff times is scattered across multiple sites, with limited consolidated information in Japanese. To solve these issues, the soccer expedition support app 'AwayBro' was developed. Developed by a soccer fan living in Sapporo who plans to travel to the tournament, the app addresses the difficulty of gathering information after securing tickets and flights. After researching information across FIFA official sites, local transportation bureaus, embassies, travel sites, and social media, the developer realized others shared the same struggle and began building the app. Following the iOS release in April 2026, the app grew through influencer partnerships and word-of-mouth, surpassing 2,000 downloads. Now, with the new Android release, it is available on both platforms. AwayBro displays all matches in both local and Japan time, making it easy to track the Japanese national team. It also includes guides for the 16 host cities, travel preparation checklists for ESTA and insurance, English/Spanish phrases for match days, and an AI assistant. Future plans include expanding into a platform supporting all soccer fan expeditions, including J-League and national team away games.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: product_launch
- Organizations: FIFA