Japanese Fan Explains Why Players and Fans Clean Stadium After Matches
A Japanese football fan has revealed the reason behind the well-known tradition of Japanese players and supporters tidying up the stadium after every FIFA World Cup match. This practice has once again captured global attention during the 2026 tournament.
Japan's national team, the Blue Samurai, kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. Following the match, Japanese fans were seen cleaning the stands, while players left their dressing room spotless, continuing a tradition that has been recognized since the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The gesture did not go unnoticed by FIFA, which posted on its official X account: 'Japan fans doing what they do ??? Following their incredible 2-2 draw with Netherlands, @jfa_samuraiblue supporters once again demonstrated their impeccable manners, tidying the stands before departing Dallas Stadium.'
A Japanese fan at the stadium explained the cultural motivation behind the cleanup. 'That's the culture, but it's like respect for everything. Respect for the players, supporters, and also for the stadium,' she told FIFA. 'We are honoured to be here, so we don't want to make the mess and then leave it. So I think that's the reason why we are doing it.'
Moriyashu Reacts to Draw
Japan's head coach, Hajime Moriyasu, expressed disappointment at only securing a point against the Netherlands. The match featured goals from Virgil van Dijk, Crysencio Summerville, Keito Nakamura, and Daichi Kamada.
'I'm disappointed that we failed to win, but even though we fell behind twice, the players never gave up and fought hard together as a team,' Moriyasu told FIFA. 'While earning only a point is a little disappointing, we managed to get a result through our collective effort. We defended patiently and then tried to be more aggressive going forward. The players executed what we had planned and prepared for.'
In related news, Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo retired from international football after an injury ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup, stating he has no regrets about his national team career.
