What’s Wrong With Japanese Fans? Rising Sun Flag Sparks Controversy Again at 1,000th World Cup Match

The appearance of the Rising Sun flag, a symbol of Japanese imperialism and militarism, has sparked controversy during the historic 1,000th match in World Cup history.

The second Group F match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup between Japan and Tunisia, held at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico at 1:00 p.m. (Korean time) on June 21, drew significant attention as it marked the 1,000th match in World Cup history. In this game, Japan secured a resounding 4-0 victory, led by a brace from Ayase Ueda and additional goals from Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito. However, overshadowing their triumphant win, the Rising Sun flag—banned by FIFA—was displayed inside the stadium, leaving a stain on the event. The scene of Japanese spectators unfurling the Rising Sun flag was captured on the broadcast and even appeared on the stadium’s electronic scoreboard.

The Rising Sun flag appeared in the second match of Group F in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup held on the 21st. Photo by Seokyungdeok Professor

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In response, Seokyung Duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University who is leading a campaign against the Rising Sun flag, stated on Facebook on June 21, "The Rising Sun flag was once again unfurled inside the stadium during the Group F match between Japan and Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, sparking fresh controversy." Professor Seo also noted that he became aware of this incident through numerous reports from netizens.

He emphasized, "The Rising Sun flag was prominently used by Japan during its invasions of various Asian countries, including in the Pacific War, and it symbolizes Japanese militarism and imperialism. Using such a flag as a cheering tool at the World Cup is truly wrong and, in particular, it serves as a painful reminder of the horrors of war for Asian football fans."

The Rising Sun flag did not appear inside the stadium during the first Group F match between Japan and the Netherlands in this World Cup. However, it did appear during street celebrations in downtown Japan at that time. Professor Seo said, "Before Japan plays its third qualifying match, I plan to report the Rising Sun flag incident that occurred during this second match to FIFA and request measures to prevent it from happening again," adding, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the Rising Sun flag is never displayed at the World Cup again."

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Meanwhile, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, security staff immediately intervened and prevented Japanese fans from waving the Rising Sun flag inside the stadium.

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