The Saitama Stadium is filled with Newcastle United supporters before of their friendly match against Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday.

Newcastle United’s first of two friendly matches in Japan is against Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium, followed by a game against Yokohama F. Marinos at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday (11am BST/7pm local time). The 63,700 capacity stadium will host fans from Japan and worldwide.

Fans have already displayed flags and banners, including one reading “have you ever seen a Mackem in Japan?” This playful taunt references Newcastle’s rivals, Sunderland, and their lack of European experience. Another banner with “Nintendo Switch 4 sale 42 kwid” alludes to a similar flag seen at Monaco in 1997.

Newcastle’s pre-season trip to Japan, while primarily for commercial purposes, presents a challenging test for Eddie Howe’s team in hot and humid conditions. Both Urawa and Yokohama have recently reached the Asian Champions League final. Howe expressed excitement about the trip, highlighting the cultural experience for players and the opportunity to gain new supporters for Newcastle.