Japan World Cup 2022: Heartwarming Moment As Japan Fans Clean Stadium After Qatar vs Ecuador Match

Japan World Cup 2022: Heartwarming Moment As Japan Fans Clean Stadium After Qatar vs Ecuador Match

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:17 PM
In this article:
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FIFA World Cup
International
  • Japan fans have captivated the world after they cleaned up Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar after the opening game of the World Cup
  • The fans were in attendance as Ecuador beat hosts Qatar on Sunday, with their team only in action against Germany on November 23
  • Japanese fans garndered world headlines in Russia four years ago after they cleaned the stadium despite being knocked out by Belgium

Japan fans have once again caught the world's attention, after they were spotted cleaning the Al Bayt Stadium after the opening match of this year's World Cup in Qatar.

The fans are not new to this noble act, first going viral in 2018 after a knockout game against Belgium in Russia.

World Cup 2022, Japan, Russia 2022, Qatar, Belgium, Brazil
Japan fans clean up the Kazan Stadium in Russia in 2018. Photo by Matthew Ashton.
Source: Getty Images

Their nation had just been dumped out of the World Cup in a brutal manner, after a scintillating comeback from Belgium. Japan thought they were on course for a quarter-final appearance, only for Belgium to turn around and beat them 3-2.

However, that did not deter their spirit as they cleaned the stadium. They have subsequently been seen doing so in other events, such as the Rugby World Cup.

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Al Bayt stadium cleaned up

Japan fans are back, and more peculiar and lovely this time - they cleaned up Al Bayt Stadium in a game where their nation wasn't even in action. Ecuador had just beaten Qatar 2-0 courtesy of Enner Valencia's brace.

The Japan fans in attendance picked up litter, as captured in a video spotted by Sports Brief. The fans are then asked why they are cleaning up after a match that wasn't theirs, to which they replied, 'the Japanese don't leave trash behind'.

Argentine reporter robbed in Qatar

In a contrasting set of events, Sports Brief has reported that Argentine reporter Dominique Metzger had her valuables stolen while on duty covering the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off in Qatar on November 20.

When the incident occurred, Metzger was out covering the showpiece for Argentine outlet TN and was doing a live segment from the Corniche area of Doha.

Metzger had money, credit cards, and other documents stolen from her handbag while reporting live, before the start of the World Cup opening ceremony.

Authors
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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)