The World Cup’s expanded format delivered a moment of pure theater and a reminder of what makes the tournament special on Sunday, as Japan held the Netherlands to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Dallas — and then stole the show after the final whistle.
While the on-field action saw debutants Curacao briefly stun Germany before falling 7-1 in Houston, and Uruguay dealt with travel chaos ahead of their opening match, it was the behavior of Japan’s supporters that once again became a talking point across social media.
As fans filtered out of AT&T Stadium, members of the traveling Blue Samurai faithful stayed behind. They fanned out through the stands, collecting discarded food trays, empty cups, and other debris that had accumulated over the course of the emotional 2-2 battle. Videos posted online showed dozens of fans in blue jerseys methodically cleaning the aisles, many wearing hats and sunglasses as temperatures in Texas climbed.
The gesture is rooted in Japanese cultural tradition. The proverb “tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu” — roughly translated as “take care of things and leave no traces behind” — has become a hallmark of Japanese supporters at major sporting events. This was not a one-off; similar scenes have played out at previous World Cups and Olympic Games.
On the field, the Netherlands and Japan played out a gripping contest. The Dutch struck first, but Japan responded with resilience and composure. The 2-2 result leaves both teams with work to do in Group F, where Sweden’s 5-1 rout of Tunisia on Saturday raised the bar.
Germany, meanwhile, shook off an early scare against Curacao. Felix Nmecha opened the scoring inside six minutes, but Livano Comenencia equalized for the tournament debutants, sparking celebrations that reminded everyone why the World Cup expanded to 48 teams. Nico Schlotterbeck headed Germany back in front before halftime, with Kai Havertz converting a penalty to make it 3-1. Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav, and Havertz again added goals in the second half to cap a 7-1 win.
Uruguay’s preparations for their Group F opener against Saudi Arabia hit a snag when their charter flight from Cancun to Miami was delayed. The Uruguayan Football Association blamed FIFA, saying the aircraft wasn’t cleared for the route due to paperwork issues. FIFA acknowledged the delay was caused by “an airline permitting error in Mexico” and said it worked with airport officials to minimize disruption. The team eventually departed around 4:15 p.m. ET, according to statement.
Elsewhere, Sweden coach Graham Potter experimented with a 3-5-2 formation that paired Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres together for the first time in a competitive match. The result was a 5-1 win over Tunisia, with both star forwards on the scoresheet. Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari, playing against his mother’s home country, added two long-range strikes. Questions remain about how seamlessly the two strikers link up — there was a moment in the second half when Gyokeres hesitated on a pass to Isak, leading to an offside call — but the sight of both players healthy and productive is a significant positive for Sweden.
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