The Italian national soccer team, "Azzurri," held its training camp in Sendai during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Its decision was based upon the city's outstanding accessibility, many training facilities, and excellent urban environment.

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni praised Sendai, remarking that it was like an Italian city, and that the hills and forests around the city reminded him of Tuscany.

World famous Italian players, such as Del Piero, Totti, and Cannavaro, as well as team staff members, were fascinated by Sendai and identified with the simple and friendly hospitality provided by its people.

Each player left their footprint and autograph at Sendai Stadium, which they used to practice, as a symbol of their friendship and gratitude. Their footprints are now cast in bronze and installed as a monument at the Azzuri Square beside the stadium. This was by no means the end of the sports relationships between Italy and Sendai.

Famous Italian soccer teams, such as AC Chievo Verona in 2003 and S.S. Lazio in 2004, visited Sendai and played exhibition matches with Vegalta Sendai.

Each year, U-18 youth teams from Europe, South America, and Asia, along with the national youth team from Japan, compete in the Sendai Cup International Youth Football Tournament. Experts throughout Japan come to Sendai for an opportunity to see these highly competitive teams before their own eyes as many of these young players become world class stars in the future.

Sendai is home to various competitive and exciting athletic events. Of course, Sendai offers more than world-class sports competitions. Sports are fun because people can play sports for entertainment, for competition, or to meet people, according to their competitive level. Additionally, there is yet another kind of fun: cooperating to support these sports activities behind the scenes. Sendai believes these different kinds of fun : are all part of the enormous value of sports, and continues to deliver a new sports culture.