Japan’s supporters have drawn attention at every men’s World Cup since 1998 for cleaning their sections after matches. On Sunday that practice included a high-profile helper, as fans in Dallas tidied their area after the opening match between Japan and the Netherlands finished in a 2-2 draw.
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston was on site as a Fox Sports World Cup correspondent and assisted with coverage of the game, according to Fox Sports. Before kickoff he walked with the Netherlands’ Orange Army fanbase as part of his reporting duties.
Following the thrilling draw, Winston joined Japan supporters in the stands to collect trash. He wore a custom Japan jersey bearing No. 4 and his name on the back and carried a blue bag as he helped gather litter alongside the fans.
The cleanup tradition dates to Japan’s first World Cup appearance in 1998 and is practiced at other major events, including the Olympics. Scott North, a professor of sociology at Osaka University, told the BBC in 2018 that Japanese students are taught to clean their classrooms and hallways, and that those routines become habits for the population. “In addition to their heightened consciousness of the need to be clean and to recycle, cleaning up at events like the World Cup is a way Japanese fans demonstrate pride in their way of life and share it with the rest of us,” North said to the BBC.
The inclusion of Winston, the veteran quarterback entering his 12th NFL season, marked a notable addition to the longstanding fan practice at the tournament’s opening fixture for both countries.
