World Cup 2026 Soccer Japanese fans clean stadium — with the help of Jameis Winston — after World Cup thriller By Stanley Harrison Published June 15, 2026, 10:44 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google Japan’s fans stayed behind after one of the more dramatic games of the World Cup so far — not to continue the celebrations, but to clean up.
Supporters were seen picking up trash around Dallas Stadium on Sunday after Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their Group F opener in Arlington, Texas.
Videos posted to social media showed fans carrying trash bags marked “Japan Pride” as they cleared garbage from the stands after the final whistle, a regular occurence at major tournaments and a cultural Japanese phenomenon.
Japan fans clean up trash in the stadium following their game against the Netherlands. AP Photo/Jessica Tobias They were joined by Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, who is working as a Fox Sports soccer correspondent during the tournament. Winston was seen helping fans collect trash around the stadium after the match.
The scene came after Japan earned a late point against the Dutch thanks to Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute equalizer.
Japan had fallen behind twice in a chaotic second half, with Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scoring for the Netherlands. Keito Nakamura scored the first equalizer for Japan before Kamada struck late to secure the draw.
“Our players managed to be tenacious but at the same time be patient and just keep calm and finding and seizing an opportunity,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said through an interpreter.
The Netherlands were left frustrated after giving up the lead late.
“It’s disappointing now because obviously conceding the lead is never good,” Van Dijk said. “It’s extra disappointing that we conceded from a set piece so late on.”
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman also acknowledged Japan’s quality after the match.
Jameis Winston Fox Sports via Getty Images “Many people underestimated Japan, but for the 100,000th time, if you underestimate them, that’s your problem,” Koeman said.
Japan reached the knockout stage at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but has never advanced beyond the round of 16.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals in Qatar before losing to Argentina on penalties. They remain the only country to reach three World Cup finals without winning the tournament.
Japan next faces Tunisia, while the Netherlands plays Sweden in its second Group F match.
