FIFA World Cup: ‘It’s respect for everything’: Japanese fans win hearts again by touching on FIFA World Cup traditions – WATCH | Football news
Japanese fans have once again captured the imagination of football fans around the world, and not just because of the atmosphere they created during their team’s exciting match. Football World Cup Against the Netherlands, but for what they did after the final whistle.Hours after Daichi Kamada’s dramatic 88th-minute equalizer rescued Japan from a 2-2 draw in Group F, videos emerged showing Samurai Blue fans cleaning the stands at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, continuing a tradition that has become synonymous with Japanese soccer culture.FIFA shared footage of the harrowing scenes on social media, with fans using the same blue bags they waved enthusiastically during the match to collect rubbish before leaving the stadium.
“It’s like respecting everything.”
Explaining why Japanese fans continue the practice, one supporter delivered a message that has resonated throughout the football world.“This is the culture. But it’s like respect for everything. Respect for the players, the fans and also the stadium. We’re honored to be here, so we don’t want to make a mess and then leave it. So I think that’s why we’re doing it,” the fan said in a video shared by FIFA.The Blue Bags played a different role just minutes earlier. They erupted in celebration when Keito Nakamura equalized for the first time before Kamada headed home from Koki Ogawa’s corner kick in the 88th minute to snatch a valuable point for Japan.
A tradition that began in 1998
The practice first caught the world’s attention during Japan’s first World Cup appearance in France in 1998. Although their team was eliminated in the group stage, Japanese fans stayed behind to pick up trash after matches.Since then, the gesture has become familiar at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Japanese fans cleared the stands after their famous 2-1 win over Germany.The tradition has now made its mark in the United States as well, leaving AT&T Stadium spotless after a match that saw plenty of drama on the field.
Kamada’s late strike saves Japan
These painful scenes came after Japan fought twice against the Netherlands. Virgil van Dijk He opened the scoring early in the second half before Keito Nakamura equalized for Samurai Blue.Crescencio Summerville restored the Dutch lead in the 64th minute, but Kamada’s late header sparked wild celebrations among the Japanese fans and secured a deserved share of the points.
