The Japan national football team and the iconic media franchise One Piece have joined forces as part of a promotional campaign leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The series’ main character, Monkey D. Luffy, has also expressed his official support for the team.
During a visit to Japan’s national training facility on May 29, captain Wataru Endo was presented with a special blue straw hat. Upon receiving the gift, Endo compared the national team to Luffy’s pirate crew and expressed his ambition to compete at the tournament as part of the Straw Hat crew, aiming to bring Japanese fans into the “New World.”
Japan Football Association president Tsunehisa Miyamoto stated that the partnership feels entirely natural. According to him, the core themes of One Piece — friendship and perseverance — perfectly reflect the philosophy of the “Samurai Blue,” who continue to challenge the world while trusting their teammates and overcoming obstacles together.
Limited-edition merchandise and supporter flags featuring original illustrations from the series will be released for fans.
As a reminder, B8 Esports defeated MIBR to move one step closer to IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 3.
