Japanese fans are again being praised for their behaviour in the stands during and after the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands
In what is becoming somewhat of a tradition, Japanese fans are again being praised for their behaviour after cleaning up rubbish in the stands following the country’s opening World Cup game.
Daichi Kamada scored a last-minute equaliser on the pitch to salvage a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in a hotly contested first game for both teams at World Cup 2026. Yet it was the performance and behaviour of their fans that drew even more praise, as they once again brought their own rubbish bags and cleaned up after themselves.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand posted a video on X showing fans picking up rubbish and stuffing it into blue bags they had brought. The game was played at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which can hold up to 94,000 people.
In the clip, one Japanese fan explained the reasons why cleaning up after leaving has become synonymous with Japanese fans at every World Cup since 2018.
She said: “That’s the culture. It’s respect for everything: the players, the supporters, and also for the stadium… We don’t want to make a mess and leave it.” People on X responded to the video with positive and admiration for the fans.
One person wrote: “You can’t buy class.’ Another wrote: ‘What a beautiful tradition this is..fans from across the nations need to adopt it.’
Japan went behind twice to the Netherlands, who took the lead in the 51st minute with a header by Virgil van Dijk, before Keito Nakamura equalised six minutes later. Crysencio Summerville gave the Netherlands the lead again with a smart finish before Daichi Kamada was in the right place at the right time in the 89th minute when the ball deflected off his head and into the net.
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