US police have issued a statement after a shooting at a World Cup fan zone left one dead and another ‘seriously injured’ in San Jose, California, on Sunday night.

There were no World Cup games being screened at the time of the shooting, with the only match of the day in the ​tournament finishing around 2pm local time. But the spot, on San Pedro Square, is one of the most popular entertainment zones in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Bay ​Area has hosted five World Cup matches so far, with the last game a ‌knockout ⁠match on Wednesday between Bosnia and co-hosts the United States.

Shooting at World Cup Fan Zone Leaves One Dead & Another in Critical Condition

Amber Searls/ Imagn Images via Reuters

Police in California have since released a statement about the incident, with several roads now closed while the investigation continues. They wrote on X (see the full post below):

A Reuters journalist at the scene saw a heavy police presence, multiple police vehicles and a person on a stretcher partially covered by a white sheet being rushed ​away from the ​area by people ⁠in uniforms, as per the Daily Mail. The scene was cordoned off and most bars in the area were closed after the incident.

Condition of Other Victim Emerges

Paul Childs via Reuters

A security guard, ​who declined to be named because she was not ​authorized to ⁠speak to media, said she saw the injured person in distress. “The person was still moaning and groaning. There was blood around his neck and upper ⁠back,” ​she said. “Police were talking to security and a ​couple of witnesses.”

Unfortunately, shootings and crime have not been rare at the 2026 World Cup, with five reported shootings taking place in Kansas City between the week before England were due to fly to their group-stage training base and now. The dangers of allowing gun licenses has cropped up in several flashpoints this summer so far.

Japan’s blue shirt has become one of their most recognisable features in world football.

From the days of Hidetoshi Nakata to the modern era of Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo, the Samurai Blue have made that deep, vivid shade of blue their own, winning admirers across the globe for their football and their identity in equal measure.

But if you look at the Japanese flag, there isn’t a single shade of blue to be found. Just a red disc on a white background. So why does Japan play in blue at all? The answer stretches back nearly a century, and involves a university kit, an unlikely comeback, and a word that sounds a lot like ‘victory’.

Why Japan Play in Blue

Issei Kato via Reuters

The story starts in 1930, when the Japan Football Association first assembled a proper national squad for the Far Eastern Championship Games. Before that point, the top-ranked university team of the year would simply represent the country in their own colours.

When the JFA brought together players from across the nation for the first time, the squad was dominated by students from Tokyo Imperial University, and their kit was light blue. The players chose to adopt that colour, and Japan wore blue for the first time as a unified national team.

The colour stuck, but it was a match six years later that turned it from a practical choice into a national superstition. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Japan faced Sweden, one of the tournament favourites, in the first round. They fell 2-0 behind in the first half. What happened next became known as the ‘miracle of Berlin’. Japan came back to win 3-2, the first ever Olympic or World Cup victory by an Asian nation. They were wearing blue.

The JFA admits that the true origin of the Blue kit is not definitively documented. But the 1936 comeback cemented the association between blue and good fortune, and the colour has been a cornerstone of Japan’s footballing identity ever since.

Blue has not always been permanent. In the late 1980s, Japan switched to a red and white kit to better reflect the colours of its flag. It didn’t go well. They failed to qualify for the 1990 World Cup and the 1992 Olympics. Blue was restored in 1992, and the team hasn’t looked back since, qualifying for every World Cup from 1998 onwards.

Kachi-Iro and the Samurai Connection

For the 2018 World Cup, the JFA introduced a specific shade of deep indigo called Kachi-Iro for the home kit. The choice was deliberate, as Kachi sounds identical to the word ‘victory’, and the colour was historically worn by Samurai under their armour, which was believed to bring strength in battle.

That link gave Japan’s nickname, the Samurai Blue, officially adopted after a public vote ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The Samurai spirit, the indigo dye, the sound of the word for victory, all of it wrapped into a single colour.

The Badge on the Shirt

Issei Kato via Reuters

The crest that sits on every Japanese shirt adds another layer of mythology to the picture. It features the Yatagarasu: a three-legged crow from ancient Japanese tradition, said to have guided the legendary first emperor through treacherous mountains. The JFA adopted the Yatagarasu as its official emblem in 1931, and it has appeared on the shirts ever since. The three legs are said to represent heaven, earth and humanity — a symbol of guidance, purpose and direction.

It is a fitting emblem for a team that has spent the better part of a century finding its own path — and doing so, always, in blue.

Manchester United will be sweating over the availability of one of their midfielders ahead of the 2026-27 season, after Manuel Ugarte was stretchered off whilst representing Uruguay at the World Cup.

The injury is another disappointing blow to the €50m midfielder’s stop-start beginning to his Manchester United career. The Uruguayan arrived at Old Trafford from Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2024, but has struggled to build momentum. During the 2025-26 season, Ugarte started only eight times for United in the Premier League.

What is Manuel Ugarte’s Injury?

REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

The 25-year-old was injured during Uruguay’s 1-0 group stage loss to Spain. Ugarte appeared in some distress after twisting his knee awkwardly whilst chasing down Spain’s Gavi. The midfielder was unable to carry on and was stretchered off the field just before halftime.

Whilst Ugarte has failed to nail down a regular starting spot at United, he has been ever present for Uruguay since debuting in 2021. He has made 39 appearances for his country and was a part of the squad that finished third at the Copa América in 2024.

Manchester United released the following statement in light of Ugarte’s injury: “Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday’s World Cup group-stage match against Spain.

“Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale.

Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way.”

How Long Will He Be Out & Return Date

Whilst confirming that Ugarte had suffered a knee ligament injury, there were no further details concerning the severity of the damage. Whether Ugarte has injured his anterior cruciate or medial collateral ligament remains unknown at this time.

Now at the beginning of his road to recovery, Ugarte has taken to social media to reflect on the injury.

Ugarte’s reflective post was supported by a number of his Manchester United teammates. The likes of club captain Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, and Luke Shaw, who has had his own difficulties with career-threatening injuries, responded supportively. Shaw commented in reply, “We are with you brother.”

The club have remained tight-lipped over a recovery timeframe for the Uruguayan, but his Instagram post stated that his knee ligament injury was “the most serious injury a footballer can face.”

If the knee ligament injury does fall into the most severe category, grade three, Ugarte could require surgery. Depending on which ligament the midfielder has damaged, he could be facing anywhere between three and 12 months on the sidelines, with a lengthy rehabilitation programme expected.

Should Ugarte get off lightly for his injury, he could be fit enough to contribute by the end of the autumn 2026. And with the busy Christmas schedule and a Champions League campaign to come, his availability could prove crucial for United’s fortunes across all competitions.

However, if the Uruguay international has suffered a grade three injury, fans may not see him in a United or Uruguay shirt until 2027. And if Ugarte is looking at potentially a year out, there could be doubts over whether he makes an appearance during the 2026-27 campaign at all.