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Japanese football fans are once again being praised online after they were seen cleaning up the stands following Japan's 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their World Cup match in Texas on Sunday, 14 June
After the game ended, Japanese fans stayed in the stadium to collect paper and waste.
— World Cup 2026 (@ofootball__) June 14, 2026
Respect, Japan. 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/aB0WL2ZbAt
After the final whistle, fans stayed behind to pick up bottles, cups and other rubbish, placing everything neatly into blue plastic bags before leaving the stadium.
Those same blue bags were actually part of the match atmosphere just minutes earlier. During the game, fans waved them in celebration when Daichi Kamada scored a late equaliser in the 88th minute from a Koki Ogawa corner.
The scenes quickly went viral after being shared by FIFA on X.
The reason Japan fans clean the stadium after each game. Respect. 🤝🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/o9qJUOLefY
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 15, 2026
In the video, one Japanese fan explained the mindset behind the clean-up effort.
"That's the culture. It's the respect for everything, respect for the players, supporters and also for the stadium. We are honoured to be here, so we don't want to make a mess then leave it," she said.
This is not a new trend. Japanese supporters have been doing this for years, with similar scenes first gaining international attention during the 1998 World Cup in France.
The habit has continued through every tournament since, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Their clean-ups over the years have even inspired fans from other nations to follow suit.
Sociology professor Scott North, quoted by the BBC, explained that the practice is learned early in life. He said children in Japan are often responsible for cleaning their own classrooms at school, which helps build the habit of taking care of shared spaces.
He added that cleaning at events like the World Cup is also a way for Japanese fans to show pride in their culture and values.
Japan fans doing what they do 🙌🇯🇵
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 15, 2026
Following their incredible 2-2 draw with Netherlands, @jfa_samuraiblue supporters once again demonstrated their impeccable manners, tidying the stands before departing Dallas Stadium. pic.twitter.com/clODmtsH2w
By the end of the night, AT&T Stadium was left spotless despite the large crowd
Japan now continue their World Cup campaign, but one thing is already clear.
Win or lose, their fans will likely leave the stadium cleaner than they found it. There's a lot we can learn from them.
That's why we love them ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/b9hfKsJkiy
— fleaGOAT (@FleaGOAT10) June 15, 2026
