Japan's soccer team dons blue uniforms at World Cup despite red flag

Japan's national soccer team continues to wear blue jerseys at the World Cup, diverging from their red and white flag. The tradition began in 1930 during the Far Eastern Championship, with the team adopting the blue color after a successful match. Despite a brief switch to red and white between 1988 and 1992, Japan reverted to blue, associating it with past victories, including an upset against Sweden at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The nickname 'Samurai Blue' only became official in 2009, linking the color to a historical narrative of warriors. Japan is set to compete with a 26-man roster in the upcoming tournament.

• 9:44 PMYahoo Sports — Why Japan plays in blue at the World Cup when the flag is red