Win, lose or draw, Japanese fans clean up at the 2026 World Cup

Japanese soccer fans drew widespread attention after the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage opener, staying behind to clean up the stadium once the final whistle blew.

Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in a Group F match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, salvaging a point thanks to Daichi Kamada's equalizer in the 88th minute. The moment the match ended, Japanese supporters pulled out blue garbage bags and began collecting trash left under the seats around them.

ESPN published a piece Monday headlined "2026 World Cup: Why do Japan fans clean stadiums?" examining the historical and cultural roots of the practice.

According to ESPN, the tradition first drew international attention at the 1998 World Cup in France — Japan's debut in the tournament — when cameras caught fans tidying up the stands before leaving. The practice has since become a recognized Japanese tradition at major international sporting events, including the World Cup and the Olympics.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japanese fans stayed to clean up even during the tournament's opening match between Qatar and Ecuador — a match Japan had no part in. After Japan's stunning 2-1 upset of title contender Germany, fans set aside their excitement and cleared the area around their seats before leaving. ESPN described them at the time as "perfect guests," while Fox Sports called it "the greatest tradition in sports."

The players followed suit. After the Germany match, the Japanese squad left their locker room spotless, placing a note reading "thank you" alongside a paper crane on the table — a gesture that made headlines around the world.

ESPN traced the cultural roots of the practice to a Japanese proverb that translates roughly as "a departing bird leaves nothing behind" — meaning one should restore a place to its original state before leaving.

Scott North, a sociology professor at Osaka University, told the BBC in 2018 that the post-match cleanup is "an extension of the education that teaches students to clean their own classrooms and hallways at school." He added that constant reinforcement from childhood makes it second nature for most Japanese people.

Scott McIntyre, a journalist based in Japan, told the BBC that the behavior "is not just football culture — it's Japanese culture," explaining that Japanese society places a premium on keeping everything clean and that soccer simply mirrors that broader value.

Barbara Holthus, deputy director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo, told the Associated Press that in Western countries people grow up learning that janitors handle public litter, so there is no expectation to clean up after oneself. "Japanese people are taught from a young age not to inconvenience others," she said, "and that mindset carries directly into how they behave in stadiums."

월드컵서 한국인에 ‘눈찢기’ 조롱…신상 털린 멕시코男, 회장직 사퇴

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10771427