SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – With Japan out of the Under-20 Men’s World Cup, things will be a little quieter in Chile.
Japanese fans held drums, banners, flags and signs and turned heads with their heartfelt support as the team achieved a perfect performance in the group stage and advanced to the last 16. It all ended with a 1-0 loss to France on Wednesday.
“I literally moved to Mexico three days ago to open a ramen shop,” fan Toshi Yoshizawa, 43, told The Associated Press. “This World Cup and this national team have made it easier for me to cross the ocean.”
Yoshizawa was part of a small but raucous group that captivated Chile with their lively presence in stadiums, whether in Santiago or Valparaíso. Some travel alone, others are businessmen living in Chile, and others, like Yoshizawa, met fellow fans during the Asian Qualifiers in China last February.
At Wednesday’s match at the National Stadium in Santiago, the energy and dedication of the fans built a bond with the local fans, and the players felt it too.
“Thank you so much Chile! We are so proud of your culture!” the players wrote on a board in the locker room before leaving the stadium.
As the players boarded buses and left the stadium, a few dozen fans remained in the stands for a few more minutes to organize and clean the seats and aisles, erasing any trace of the raucous party that had taken place there moments before.
“This is one of our traditions. We grew up being taught that you should leave a place cleaner than when you came in,” Yoshizawa explained.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
