Japan fans explain why they cleaned up at World Cup before leaving AT&T Stadium
There are plenty of sights one can expect to see when attending a FIFA World Cup game, and fans cleaning up isn’t among them, one would think. But this practice is a staple for fans, especially those supporting Japan.
The Blue Samurai’s fans are known for cleaning up stadiums before they leave. They cleaned up after the team’s first game against the Netherlands at AT&T Stadium with NFL quarterback Jameis Winston pitching in. Winston is a commentator for Fox Sports during the World Cup.
The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
Cocomi Tran, who lives in North Texas, attended her first World Cup game Thursday. She called it a dream come true and said the behavior showed by Japanese fans is something ingrained in them from a young age.
“In Japanese schools and elementary, we’re always taught to clean up after ourselves,” Tran said. “We always do our own dishes, we feed ourselves for the cooking and for lunch, and we have like afternoon chores before the school starts. For them, it’s not their home, so it’s more so respecting other people’s home and making sure that you make a mess and you clean it up, but I think that’s all cultures. I think we also just do too much, but, it’s fun.”
The tradition is not without its detractors. Some Japanese women complained about male fans being praised internationally who don’t live up to that reputation at home.
“Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes,” someone posted on X, referencing a quote by political satirist PJ O’Rourke.
“There’s probably a guy among these people picking up trash, who has a young kid at home and left his wife to look after them to come watch the World Cup,” posted another.
Nitran said she thought most fans cared about cleaning up after themselves but said her fellow Blue Samurai fans make it a spectacle.
“The blue bags, I mean, I think every country does think about themselves. It’s just we have blue bags, so you see it,” said Tran. “I think every country does it, but it is nice to be known [for being respectful and cleanly], so I mean, props us, I guess, but also props other countries, they do that also.”
Toby Tran, who also lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, echoed Nitran’s words.
“As an Asian, I think that’s really respectful just now I was cleaning up with them, and honestly, I would do that anywhere I would go,” Tran said.
Japan’s 1-1 draw with Sweeden will see the Blue Samurai advance to the knockout stage and will pay Brazil at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.
This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 9:41 PM.
