Once again, Japanese football fans have garnered praise for their commitment to cleanliness, arriving in Dallas with bin bags in hand for their team’s World Cup opener.

The Samurai Blue kicked off their tournament at the AT&T Stadium on Sunday, where they faced the Netherlands amidst scorching Texas temperatures exceeding 40°C.

The match remained tense until Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock after halftime, but Japan quickly leveled the score with a swift shot from Keito Nakamura.

However, the Netherlands soon regained their lead as Crysencio Summerville curled a shot into the bottom corner of the net, putting them back in front.

It seemed that Summerville’s strike would secure the victory for the Dutch, but with only minutes remaining, Japan salvaged a point thanks to a powerful header from Koki Ogawa, which deflected off Daichi Kamada.

It marked an impressive start to the Asian nation’s eighth World Cup – though it’s not just the football which Japan have earned praise for. 

Japanese football fans have once again been hailed for their cleanliness after thousands arrived in Dallas armed with bin bags for their World Cup opener

Pictures showed dozens of supporters cleaning up coffee cups, sweet packages and crisp wrappers after watching their team draw 2-2 on Sunday

Japan supporters have developed a reputation for being the classiest fans in football

It came after scores of supporters lined the streets of Dallas with bin bags swinging in the air

Having travelled 6,000 miles to Dallas, the Japanese arrived in Texas armed with hundreds of bin bags, and many selfless supporters stayed long after the final whistle to clean up rubbish. 

Images released before the game showed scores of fans marching the streets of the American city before parading their bags around the stadium as the players warmed up.

Football fans took to social media post-match to praise the Japanese, who they dubbed ‘classy’ and ‘respectful’.

One wrote: ‘Class will always be permanent. No matter what the scoreline is on the pitch, Japan fans win off it every single tournament. Huge respect.’

While another penned: ‘They have so much class it’s rare to see a country that always stay out of trouble and show love.’

One more simply posted: ‘Take me to Japan. Mad level of discipline.’ 

However the Japanese don’t reserve their ritual for only the biggest occasions.

Back in March, supporters were hailed as ‘selfless’ and ‘respectful’ after staying for nearly an hour after an international friendly against England to clean up any mess left behind. 

Fans put their litter in rubbish bags after sweeping the stands at full time

And the Japanese continued showing off their bin bags as the players warmed up 

In Japan, cleanliness forms a huge part of the culture and is instilled in people from an early age

Dozens of football fans took to social media after the match to praise the Japanese fans

Videos and images showed scores of visiting supporters trawling through the stands at Wembley Stadium and picking up coffee cups, crisp packets and sweet wrappers.

It earned the supporters the praise of Wembley’s official social media page, which simply posted: ‘Thank you’. 

And at the last World Cup finals four years ago in Qatar, the Japanese were commended after staying late to clean up following a landmark 2-1 victory over Germany.

After their 2-1 win over Colombia at the 2018 tournament in Russia, fans also ensured they left no mess behind before leaving the Mordovia Arena in Saransk. 

That move at the 2018 tournament seemed to spark a trend, with Senegalese fans later seen tidying up following their win over Poland.

Japan’s players have also earned praise for leaving changing rooms in a spotless state.

While fans were cleaning the stands after the win over Germany, the team also left their dressing room in pristine condition – even leaving behind origami swans with a thank you note in Japanese and Arabic.

In Japan, cleanliness forms a huge part of the culture and is instilled in people from an early age.

Scott North, a professor of sociology at Osaka University, told the BBC in 2018 that tidying is a way of ‘demonstrating pride in the Japanese way of life’.

It comes after fans stayed late at Wembley after watching their side beat England 1-0

‘It’s not just part of the football culture but part of Japanese culture,’ he said. ‘You often hear people say that football is a reflection of culture. An important aspect of Japanese society is making sure that everything is absolutely clean and that’s the case in all sporting events and certainly also in football.

‘Cleaning up after football matches is an extension of basic behaviours that are taught in school, where the children clean their school classrooms and hallways,’ he added.

‘With constant reminders throughout childhood, these behaviours become habits for much of the population.’

Which England star has 7 GCSEs? Who has lost half of his finger? Test your knowledge of Thomas Tuchel’s squad with our exclusive quiz HERE. 

LOS ANGELES — For most soccer athletes, the 38th birthday marks a farewell to the field.

Tim Ream, however, defies this norm.

On Friday, as Team USA took to the pitch at SoFi Stadium, the captain’s armband was donned by Ream, a seasoned player with nearly 20 years of professional experience.

At the age of 38 years and 250 days, Ream made history as the oldest player to represent the United States in a FIFA World Cup match. Yet, while this milestone is noteworthy, what transpired afterward was even more extraordinary.

Ream’s inclusion in the starting lineup was no mere formality. It wasn’t a token gesture honoring a veteran’s legacy before he bows out of the sport.

The veteran center back can still play at a high level, and despite being a few months shy of his 39th birthday, he delivered one of the finest performances in our country’s history.

Ream, a former New York Red Bull, completed 23 line-breaking passes during the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

It was eight more than any player at the tournament so far, and the most by a defender in a World Cup match since Ghana’s John Paintsil in 2010.

Ream’s passes against Paraguay were ambitious. Twenty of his 91 attempted passes ended in the final third. That’s part of the reason U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino selected Ream as the captain. He’s not just a vocal leader, but he’s one of the best on the roster at distributing the ball.

Ream split Paraguay’s defensive shape with passes that turned defense into attack instantly. The result was four goals, the most in U.S. World Cup history.

Four years ago, Ream believed Qatar was his last World Cup with the U.S. squad. At the time, he was anchoring Fulham’s defense in the English Premier League and serving as the elder statesman on a squad of young American players led by then-captain Tyler Adams.

Young players gravitated toward him because of his professionalism, honesty and steady presence. Players praised his calmness on the pitch. When Pochettino was appointed manager in 2024, he preached a simple message: Representing your country should feel like the highest honor a player can have. Every time you take the field wearing the USA crest, it should feel like a World Cup final.

Few players embraced that philosophy more than Ream.

Slowly, almost organically, he became the extension of Pochettino’s voice inside the locker room.

“He’s a great professional,” Pochettino said. “He’s 38. He’s really fit. He’s committed. And his experience is massive playing over 10 years in Europe. When he plays, he’s a leader on the field, and if he doesn’t play I feel like he’s still on the field.”

That’s what separates Ream from past captains. His leadership is not attached to playing time.

“This is more than a dream come true,” Ream said. “I’ve done everything possible to be a part of this group, to help this group along.”

There may be younger and faster defenders in the U.S. pool, but few have Ream’s experience.

Now that the World Cup is back on home soil for the first time in 32 years, there are tremendous pressure and expectations on Team USA. Ream, a native of St. Louis, embraces it. In their first match, he looked like the player most comfortable carrying the weight of the moment.

If the Americans are going to make history this summer, they’re going to need Ream to lead the way and prove that age is just another number written on the roster sheet.

The birthday celebrations kicked off at UFC Freedom 250 with a special guest appearance.

Former President Donald Trump received a grand welcome on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, joining promoter Dana White as they arrived to the sound of trumpets. The event featured a performance by the Zac Brown Band singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by a dramatic 12-jet flyover as AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” played in the background. This spectacle came despite earlier concerns about adverse weather conditions.

Washington D.C. was bustling with thousands of fight enthusiasts and protesters alike, all gathered for the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House. Despite the looming threat of lightning and thunderstorms, officials ultimately decided to move forward with the event.

The possibility of a weather-related delay seemed to be a sensitive topic for the White House. Earlier on Sunday, a report from the Weather Channel sparked a strong reaction from an administration spokesperson after predicting rain, strong winds, and mosquitoes on the White House lawn.

In response, the White House’s @RapidResponse47 account issued a fiery post on social media platform X, stating, “This event is about celebrating America’s unmatched greatness after 250 years — which apparently doesn’t sit well with the friendless loser who wrote this bulls*** clickbait headline. Rain or shine, we’re celebrating our great country no matter what. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

Dana White walks alongside Donald Trump from the White House to the South Lawn 

Melania Trump arrives at UFC Freedom 250. Her husband was escorted in by Dana White 

The Claw, as it is known, offers a support system for the UFC’s many lighting fixtures 

A 12-jet flyover is seen over the White House prior to UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday night 

President Donald Trump and UFC promoter Dana White exit the White House for the show 

The arena is seen on the South Lawn of the White House from the Washington Monument

Clouds are seen over the Washington Monument ahead of UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday 

Gathering clouds loom over the Ellipse, National Mall and White House in Washington DC 

Fans line up as the gates open for the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest at The Ellipse on June 14,

The UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse and the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House are seen from the top of the Washington Monument

Members of the National Guard patrol as fans arrive to the UFC Fan Fest on the Ellipse 

People are seen on the roof of the White House prior to the UFC Freedom 250 fights taking place on the South Lawn. Meanwhile, fans wish a happy 80th to their ‘dearest leader’ 

Ryan McKenna and Ben Owens stand at the UFC Fan Fest on the Ellipse

For his part, White has shared the same belief that Sunday’s show will proceed regardless of the weather in Washington. 

Trump’s middle son Eric shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the distinct setting for Sunday night’s fight festivities earlier in the day. From the roof of the White House, the 42-year-old showed aerial view of the newly constructed arena underneath ‘The Claw,’ a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lighting, sound equipment and large screens.

To the side, cranes loomed over the White House as part of the construction for the new East Wing ballroom. 

Meanwhile, outside the White House, angry protestors are attacking Trump over his immigration policy, allegations of corruption, and the war with Iran, which the President once again claimed to have ended on Sunday. 

‘Congratulations to all!’ he wrote on social media, without providing details about the deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. He added, ‘Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!’ 

The Tkachuk brothers, Brady (left) and Matthew (right), take part in fan fest on Sunday 

People take part in a protest organized by Refuse Fascism against the Trump administration ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 event. Citizens called for Trump’s removal from office 

The weather for Sunday’s event remains a potential threat, not that the White House cares

The view from under ‘The Claw,’ a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with UFC equipment 

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his wife Katie arrive at the White House

FBI Director Kash Patel and Country Music Artist Alexis Wilkins arrive at the White House

An AI-generated image of Donald Trump kissing Russian President Vladimir Putin is raised

There is a heavy police presence at UFC Freedom 250 in Washington DC 

The protestors aren’t the only unwelcome guests the event.  

MMA fighter Sean Strickland was escorted out of a UFC Freedom 250 by US Secret Service and other law enforcement after his mocking comments about Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. 

Strickland claimed earlier this month that he had been banned over his comments about Trump’s connections to the convicted sex offender and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

However, the former UFC champion defied that ban on Sunday when he attended the Fan Fest at the nearby Ellipse in Washington DC. 

His shock appearance received a frosty reception from the MAGA-loyal MMA fans in attendance who stormed towards the ring where he stood, immediately jeering and booing. 

Strickland was then kicked out of the event, escorted away by Secret Service agents to chants of ‘USA’ from the crowd. 

‘UFC at the White House with [Netanyahu] in the audience. Straight slop,’ Strickland, the MMA promotion’s undisputed middleweight champion wrote on Instagram last week. 

Law enforcement swiftly moved into action, detaining Strickland and kicking him out 

The MMA fighter snuck into the Fan Fest after previously claiming he had been banned 

With clouds gathering in the background, fans eagerly await Sunday’s UFC fight card 

Fans wait for Sunday’s fight card to get underway on the Ellipse near the White House

The Ellipse attracted thousands of fans on Sunday for UFC Freedom 250 in Wasington 

To celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday and the country’s 250th, White’s UFC claims to have spent $60 million on this weekend’s festivities, which the President billed as ‘the greatest show on earth.’ 

UFC fans and patriots alike jumped at the chance to claim some real estate at the Ellipse as they arrived at the promotion’s fan fest hours before the fighters were slated to take to the Octagon on the South Lawn. 

Most noticeably, though, will be the 4,000-plus fight fans screaming themselves hoarse on the South Lawn. And all of this will take place in a temporary, newly constructed arena under ‘The Claw,’ a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lighting, sound equipment and large screens. 

As for the thousands waiting in line hours before the opening fight, they were will be watching on big screens from the nearby Ellipse. 

‘This event is a one of one event, incredible event. I love it,’ White, a close friend of the President, during a Friday night hype session at the Lincoln Memorial. 

MMA fans showed up by the thousands for Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 in Washington DC 

Trump protestors call for the President’s removal from office on Sunday in Washington 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy arrives at the White House for UFC Freedom 250

Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki arrives at the White House ahead of the UFC Freedom 250

Donald Trump is seen in attendance alongside UFC Dana White during the UFC 327 event 

A fan in attendance during the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest at The Ellipse on Sunday night 

This is the planned setup for Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 on the White House’s South Lawn

A fan poses for a picture in an octagon set up during the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest 

Cranes are seen near the White House ahead of UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday

House speaker and Trump ally Mike Johnson has arrived at UFC Freedom 250

A satellite image shows the White House and The Ellipse after the construction of the setup

There will be two title fights taking place on Paramount’s premium streaming service, Paramount+: Brazil’s Alex Pereira against France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title and Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim champ, American Justin Gaethje.

The night’s other bouts include recent challengers Michael Chandler, Derrick Lewis and former 135-pound champion Sean O’Malley.

The bout represents another in the long history between White and Trump, who began hosting the MMA promotion’s events at the since-shuttered Trump Taj Mahal back in 2001.

Since then, White has introduced Trump at three separate Republican National Conventions and was even present at the recent White House Correspondents’ Association dinner that was interrupted by an attempted assassin.

Many UFC fighters have professed their love and admiration for Trump, including Jon Jones, Colby Covington, Conor McGregor and Gaethje. 

Residents across the Chicago area awoke to a grim scene on Sunday morning, as overnight storms left a trail of destruction in their wake. The powerful weather system, which swept through the southern and southwestern suburbs, was responsible for extensive property damage, power outages affecting thousands, and the hospitalization of a woman after a tree fell onto her home.

The recent weather events add to an already tumultuous period marked by severe conditions. Over the past few days, the region has faced a barrage of storms, including an alarming count of 13 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service.

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The series of tornadoes and storms have not only disrupted daily life but have also prompted concerns about safety and the readiness of emergency services in handling such widespread damage. As the community begins the challenging process of recovery, local authorities and residents are assessing the impact and planning the next steps to rebuild and restore normalcy.

13 tornadoes rated by NWS so far: