The soccer World Cup in Qatar was full of surprises on the pitch, but there was also exceptional behavior among fans off the pitch.
Much to the delight of locals, some supporters have opted to wear traditional Qatari clothing in and around stadiums. But perhaps the most welcome gesture is that of the Japanese fans.
Whether won, lost or drawn, the Japanese spend time picking up trash in the stands after every game.
Their habit is to post on social media during the tournament, but that’s not unusual for Japanese fans or players known for tidying up the team’s locker rooms and leaving thank-you notes.
The Japanese Football Association delivered 8,000 blue trash bags to fans, who color the stadiums to match the “samurai blue.” Each bag is covered with thank you messages in Arabic, Japanese and English.
In July 2018, Japanese fans and soccer players already won applause after being seen collecting trash at FIFA World Cup matches in Russia.
Japan could end the tournament today with a loss to Croatia, but the fans and players will hopefully leave a lasting impression on all fans of the beautiful game.
The soccer World Cup in Qatar was full of surprises on the pitch, but there was also exceptional behavior among fans off the pitch.
Much to the delight of locals, some supporters have opted to wear traditional Qatari clothing in and around stadiums. But perhaps the most welcome gesture is that of the Japanese fans.
Whether won, lost or drawn, the Japanese spend time picking up trash in the stands after every game.
Their habit is to post on social media during the tournament, but that’s not unusual for Japanese fans or players known for tidying up the team’s locker rooms and leaving thank-you notes.
The Japanese Football Association delivered 8,000 blue trash bags to fans, who color the stadiums to match the “samurai blue.” Each bag is covered with thank you messages in Arabic, Japanese and English.
In July 2018, Japanese fans and soccer players already won applause after being seen collecting trash at FIFA World Cup matches in Russia.
Japan could end the tournament today with a loss to Croatia, but the fans and players will hopefully leave a lasting impression on all fans of the beautiful game.