Only eight more days until the 2026 World Cup takes over our TV screens and our time. From celebrities to regular people, everyone has made their support for different countries clear. However, the Japan National Football Team, known as the Samurai Blue, revealed a special someone supporting their attempts at glory: Captain of the Straw Hats himself, Monkey D. Luffy!
Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, compiled a video of One Piece characters with the Samurai Blue to support and commemorate the team. The special One Piece x Samurai Blue trailer will be available until August 31st, a little over a month after the 2026 World Cup ends.
Check out the trailer below while it’s still available:
One Piece in Sports
Not only has One Piece made a name for itself in the anime world by being the highest-selling manga of all time, as well as the anime being part of the “big three” of anime, but the series has taken over the sporting world.
From its previous collaborations with the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox to its future collaboration with the Los Angeles Dodgers, One Piece has earned its spot in sports. Beyond that, athletes all around the world, especially in soccer, have made a nod to Monkey D. Luffy in celebration before.
Ex-Atletico Madrid player and World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann paid homage to Gear 2 Luffy during a game against Real Betis. The Savannah Bananas have celebrated catches with numerous One Piece-inspired poses, from Boa Hancock to Donquixote Doflamingo.
As anime and sports continue to collaborate and intertwine, the future of both industries will continue to shock and amaze. We’ll just have to wait and see until then.
In the meantime, who are you supporting in the World Cup? Are you joining Monkey D. Luffy in supporting the Samurai Blue, or does another team have your heart?
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