Football: Moriyasu acknowledges Japan fans for cleaning up stands

The World Cup's cultural footprint extends far beyond the pitch, as Hajime Moriyasu highlighted Japan fans' post-match cleanup as a point of pride during a press conference in Monterrey. Ahead of Japan's Group F clash with Tunisia, Moriyasu praised the habit of leaving venues cleaner than upon arrival and noted the team itself often helps tidy the stands and fields after matches. He recalled a time someone warned it could cost jobs, but argued that cleanliness and cooperation remain central to Japan's football identity. The Japan-Tunisia match in Monterrey marks the 1,000th World Cup game in history, and this year also commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. After a Nashville training session, the local pitch maintenance supervisor joined the players in clearing the venue, a concrete example of that Japanese mentality in action. Moriyasu framed football as a bridge that connects people and cultures, with these acts of communal effort serving as tangible expressions of shared respect.