Japan's fans keep World Cup stadium spotless as coach Moriyasu uses novel timing board

Japanese supporters at the World Cup match against the Netherlands in the United States stayed behind after the 2‑2 draw to collect waste in blue bags, saying, “We must think of others. In Japan we believe the place we use should be left cleaner than when we arrived,” said 20‑year‑old fan Eita Tanaka. Their habit, rooted in school‑age cleaning routines, extended to the arena and even included NFL player James Winston, who wore a blue jersey with his name on the back.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu also drew attention by delivering instructions with an unusual large board that displayed the minutes remaining in the first half. The visual cue helped players gauge how much time they needed to endure before the break. Japan secured its first point of the tournament with the draw, advancing to its next match against Tunisia in Mexico.