United Arab Emirates face Japan at Korogi Athletic Park (5,000 capacity) in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on September 25, 2026, with first ball at 2:00 PM JST (UTC+9) in Preliminary Round, Group B of Cricket at the 2026 Asian Games. This is the host nation’s only home advantage during the competition, playing in front of their own fans.

Japan are participating as the host nation in a cricket tournament they have invested significantly in developing. The Japan Cricket Association has grown the sport from a niche expat activity into a legitimate domestic competition, but competing against Associate giants like UAE represents a serious test of how far Japanese cricket has progressed.

Korogi Athletic Park is a 5,000-capacity venue in Nisshin, east of Nagoya, converted from a baseball facility into a permanent cricket ground for the 2026 Asian Games. The conversion represents a major investment in cricket infrastructure in Japan, a nation better known globally for baseball and football.

A 2:00 PM JST first ball translates to 10:30 AM IST in India, 5:00 AM GMT in London, 4:00 PM AEST in Sydney, and 1:00 AM EDT in New York.

UAE have significant competitive experience at ICC global qualifier events and are one of the stronger Associate nations in Asian cricket. For Japan, hosting the Asian Games provides a chance to attract new cricket fans from a mainstream sporting audience that would not typically follow ICC events. A strong performance from the host nation, even in defeat, could be a turning point for cricket’s profile in Japan.

The 2026 Asian Games run across Aichi Prefecture from September 19 to October 4. Cricket runs on a tight schedule with preliminary matches on September 24 to 26, quarterfinals on September 28 to 29, semifinals on October 1, and the bronze and gold medal matches both on October 3.

For timezone conversions, check Japan time and UAE time.