Kashima Antlers vs. FC Pohang Steelers: Kickoff Time, Venue, and How to Follow

Quick match details

Kashima Antlers vs. FC Pohang Steelers is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 League Stage, Matchday 3 in the East Region. Kashima are the home team, and the match is listed at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan.

Japan uses JST at UTC+09:00 and does not observe daylight saving time, so the kickoff remains on October 28 when converted to UTC: 10:00 a.m. UTC. If you are following from another country, convert from that date’s local time-zone rules rather than applying today’s offset automatically. The fixture is listed by the official J.LEAGUE match page under identifier 102808. The JFA schedule and Kashima Antlers’ club schedule also list the same date, kickoff, and stadium. Details below were checked on October 26, 2026; recheck the official match page before traveling in case the organizer posts a change.

What Matchday 3 means

This is a league-stage fixture, not a knockout tie or a final. The “East” label identifies the regional side of the competition schedule; it is useful when opening AFC or J.LEAGUE fixtures, where East and West matchdays may appear together. Both clubs are playing the third matchday of the 2026/27 league stage. That label does not by itself tell you the result, qualification status, or which team is favored. For standings or qualification scenarios, use the live competition table after the relevant matches have been played rather than relying on a preview written before kickoff.

For a quick factual check, look for four fields together: competition season, Matchday 3 – East, the home-away order, and the venue. This avoids mixing the fixture with another Kashima or Pohang match in a domestic league or a different AFC competition. The official J.LEAGUE page names the pairing and shows the kickoff in Japan time; its Summary and Stats sections are the natural place to confirm the match record and published statistics after the game. Team news and starting lineups can change close to kickoff, so treat a lineup as confirmed only when the club or official match center posts it.

If you are attending at Kashima Soccer Stadium

Kashima Antlers’ match-specific spectator guide lists queueing from 4:50 p.m. JST and says stadium gates are scheduled to open at 5:00 p.m. JST, two hours before kickoff. The club warns that entrance congestion is expected, especially during the hour before the match, and recommends arriving at least two hours early. These are planned times, not a guarantee that every entrance or stand will operate exactly as shown; check the guide again on matchday and follow staff instructions.

Plan the return trip as carefully as the journey in. The club’s access page lists options by car and public transportation, including routes from Tokyo and from the Mito area. It notes that a temporary Kashima Soccer Stadium stop is operated on matchdays on the Kashima Rinkai Railway, and that transport around the stadium can become crowded after the final whistle. If you are using a reserved bus, train, or parking space, confirm the booking and departure details before leaving. Do not assume you can make a tight connection immediately after the match; postgame traffic, crowd control, ceremonies, and service availability can affect the exit.

• Check the stadium name and match date on your ticket before setting your route.
• Open the club’s spectator guide for the latest gate, queue, and stand information.
• Review the official access page for your chosen transport mode and return plan.
• Recheck prohibited items and any ticket-specific entry conditions before packing.

Where to follow the score or watch

For the official fixture record, bookmark the J.LEAGUE match page for fixture 102808. Before kickoff it confirms the scheduled pairing and venue; after the match, use its match summary and statistics to verify the recorded score. The AFC’s official Champions League Elite page is another place to check competition updates and results. Refresh an official page during play if you need a score update, and use the final match record rather than an unverified social post when confirming the result.

Kashima Antlers’ official match guide currently includes a “Watch on DAZN” link for the fixture. That listing does not establish that the stream is available in every country or under every subscription. If you are watching outside Japan, check the match in the DAZN service or authorized listings for your location before kickoff. The official material reviewed for this article does not establish a universal broadcaster for all territories, so no worldwide TV channel is listed here.

Matchday checklist

• Time: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00), or 10:00 a.m. UTC.
• Venue: Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Ibaraki; Kashima Antlers at home to FC Pohang Steelers.
• Entry: Current club guide lists queueing at 4:50 p.m. JST and planned gate opening at 5:00 p.m. JST; allow for congestion and check for updates.
• Travel: Verify the outbound route, return service, parking, and ticket conditions through the club’s official access and spectator pages.
• Watching: The club guide links to DAZN; confirm local availability. Use official J.LEAGUE or AFC pages to verify the score and match statistics.

Official sources

• J.LEAGUE fixture page: Kashima Antlers vs. FC Pohang Steelers
• Kashima Antlers’ match-specific spectator guide
• Kashima Antlers’ official stadium access guide
• Kashima Antlers’ 2026/27 league-stage schedule announcement
• Japan Football Association league-stage schedule announcement
• AFC Champions League Elite official site