INDIO, Calif. (AP) — The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, in its 25th edition, returns to the Empire Polo Club.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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Young Thug performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoer Aliannah Fernandez is seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Flowerovlove performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Iggy Pop performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Karol G performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Travis Barker performs with Clipse during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
FKA twigs performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Sombr performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Megan Skiendiel, from left, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeong, Lara Raj, and Sophia Laforteza of KATSEYE perform during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
CMAT performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Gerald Casale, from left, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Bob Mothersbaugh of Devo performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Joost poses during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Slayyyter performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen at the Do LaB stage during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
David Lee Roth poses for a portrait during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Lizzo, left, and Sexyy Red perform during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Young Thug performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoer Aliannah Fernandez is seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Flowerovlove performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Iggy Pop performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Karol G performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Travis Barker performs with Clipse during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
FKA twigs performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Sombr performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Megan Skiendiel, from left, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeong, Lara Raj, and Sophia Laforteza of KATSEYE perform during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
CMAT performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Gerald Casale, from left, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Bob Mothersbaugh of Devo performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Joost poses during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Slayyyter performs during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen at the Do LaB stage during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
David Lee Roth poses for a portrait during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Lizzo, left, and Sexyy Red perform during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Festivalgoers are seen during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wataru Endo made clear Monday night that Japan has very high expectations for the World Cup.
“We will do our best with pride and passion to achieve something that we’ve never seen before in Japan’s soccer history,” Japan's captain said.
The Liverpool defensive midfielder and his teammates spent nearly an hour at an open practice jogging around the pitch at GEODIS Park, home of Major League Soccer's Nashville club, after arriving earlier Monday. Nashville is home before Japan opens the World Cup on Sunday against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas, in Group F.
More than 5,000 fans were in the stands watching the open practice. While some traveled from Japan, others came from Michigan, Atlanta and even Austin, Texas, for a glimpse of the Samurai Blue. Japan wrapped up the nearly one-hour session with players taking turns tossing or handing gifts to fans.
Takuro Kaya and his son, Yuhi, wore team gear after driving from North Carolina to support Japan. Kaya said his son's favorite player is Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, who was left off the squad with an injured hamstring, but that his son was excited to see other players like midfielder Junya Ito.
Kaya and his son also will be traveling to the Dallas area to watch Japan play while expecting a deep run in this World Cup.
“We’re so excited and motivated to come here," Kaya said.
Japan is competing at its eighth straight World Cup and aiming to advance beyond the group stage for the third tournament in a row. Japan stunned Germany and Spain for two of the biggest upsets at the last World Cup in Qatar.
The next step is advancing past the round of 16 after being eliminated on penalties by eventual semifinalist Croatia in 2022.
Japan got a taste of Nashville weather, with torrential thunderstorms ahead of its open practice leading to muggy conditions under a hot sun. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki said he likes Nashville as a host city and doesn't anticipate weather being an issue.
“We practiced in Mexico, and it was really hot," Suzuki said. "So I think of course here U.S. is also hot, but now we are getting ready for that.”
Associated Press writer Kristin M. Hall contributed to this report.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Fans cheer for the Japan national team during a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Fans cheer for the Japan national team during a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Shou Itoh, center, cheers for the Japan national team during a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Japan national team jogs around the pitch during a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu takes a picture with fans after a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)