As early as three hours before kick-off of their football friendly at the National Stadium, fans of the Japan and Brazil teams arrived - faces painted, voices loud, jerseys worn proudly - and turned the 55,000-seater arena into a part-Samba, part-Samurai festival on Tuesday evening.

Even before football stars Neymar and Keisuke Honda took to the field, most spectators The Straits Times spoke to were pleased with the smooth ingress into the new Kallang facility.

Drivers with pre-sold parking tickets found lots with ease, while those who arrived early by train spoke of a packed but hassle-free commute. Said Joseph Tay, 50: "It was a smooth journey in from the MRT station. There were ushers telling us where to go, and admission was a breeze."

However, those who arrived minutes before the match had to endure delays at the bag-check areas before they were admitted into the stadium.

There were also issues in the media tribune, as the 300 local and overseas journalists were stranded without power and wifi.