Rising Sun flag at World Cup match puts fans and their celebrations under scrutiny

Some fans of the Japanese football team were seen cheering with the Rising Sun flag during Japan’s 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match on Saturday, reigniting debate on the use of the controversial symbol associated with Japan’s wartime militarism and imperialism.

The flag appeared both on television broadcasts and on the stadium’s electronic scoreboard during the Group F match between Japan and Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico at 1 p.m.

“Using the Rising Sun flag as a celebratory instrument at the World Cup is highly inappropriate,” said Prof. Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University. “It can evoke memories regarding the horrors of war for football fans across Asia.”

Japan used the Rising Sun flag during its invasions of Asian countries, including throughout the Pacific War, and the flag is widely regarded as a symbol of Japanese militarism and imperialism.

This is not the first time that supporters of the Japan team have faced criticism over using the flag.

“During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, fans attempted to display the Rising Sun flag inside stadiums, but security personnel immediately intervened and stopped them,” said Seo.

The professor plans to report the latest incident to FIFA, the governing body of international football, and request measures to prevent similar occurrences before Japan’s third-round qualifying matches begin.

On Wednesday, he also raised concerns about instances of people displaying the Rising Sun flag during street-viewing events in Japan following a World Cup match between Japan and the Netherlands.

“Through continued international awareness efforts, we will work to eliminate the misuse of the flag around the world,” Seo said. 

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]