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Why Do Japan Wear Blue in Football?

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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

Japan's Keito Nakamura 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.

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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

Japan players celebrate v Germany
Japan players celebrate v Germany

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

Takefusa Kubo (Japan) 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.


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Crystal Palace Eye Harvey Elliott Deal From Liverpool

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Liverpool could sanction a deal for one of their stars to join a Premier League rival this summer, as Sky Sports reports that a player is being monitored in the transfer window.

A sale for the Reds could come at an important time in the market, as the club are braced for another summer of huge spending to land key targets.

Work has already been done to complete the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz so far, but Yan Diomande’s move to Anfield now appears to be over, as the winger prefers a switch to PSG.

Attention will turn elsewhere, with Bradley Barcola eyed up, but there could be exits required to help fund such a deal over the coming weeks.

Curtis Jones has been linked with a move away, but so too has Harvey Elliott, who is looking for a fresh start after a frustrating year.

Crystal Palace Want Harvey Elliott

Harvey Elliott during a pre-match warm-up with Liverpool

Elliott has made his return to Liverpool this summer, a year on from agreeing a loan move to join Aston Villa with an obligation to make the deal permanent once certain criteria had been met.

The midfielder was quickly discarded by Unai Emery, however, as the manager didn’t want to give him the appearances required to trigger the £35 million transfer switch.

In the end, Elliott was stuck in limbo until the end of the season, and his return to Liverpool comes at a time when he is looking to take on a new opportunity.

Fortunately for him, and for the Reds, there is interest this summer. Sky Sports reports that Premier League rivals Crystal Palace are monitoring a possible deal for the 23-year-old.

It’s unclear whether the Eagles will ramp up their efforts to land the star, who has been described as a “special” talent in his time, but there may still be a way back for him at Anfield.

The report adds that Elliott will be given the chance to impress Andoni Iraola, with the possibility that he will make an impression and stake a claim in the squad for next season onwards.

It hands him a potential lifeline, either at Liverpool or elsewhere, after a challenging season.

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Tough Elliott Decision To Follow

Harvey Elliott

Liverpool will have a tough decision to make surrounding the future of Elliott, regardless of whether he stays or leaves this summer.

The 23-year-old only has one year left on his deal, which means an exit would be the last chance for the club to make some money back on a sale, but it would likely not reach the £35 million they had agreed before.

If the star does stay, then Liverpool may need to consider protecting his value by offering a contract extension, so they don’t lose yet another star as a free agent.


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That may have to come with guarantees over game time, however, which played a potential part in his original exit from the club to Aston Villa.

Regardless of whether he stays or leaves, Liverpool are not in the most ideal position and will have to see what the future holds for Elliott in the weeks to come.

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Rangers Close In On Double Transfer Deal As World Cup Ace Set For Medical

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Rangers are ramping up their efforts to improve the squad for the upcoming season, as TeamTalk reports that one star is close to joining the club, while another is about to leave in the opposite direction.

It’ll be the fourth bit of business that the Ibrox outfit complete this summer, having already made moves to give Derek McInnes a chance to impress in his first campaign in the dugout.

Lawrence Shankland was the first arrival, signing for free from Hearts after the club triggered a clause in his deal that allowed him to join his boyhood club.

Ross McCrorie made his long-awaited return to Rangers shortly after, while Ben Godfrey also joins on a season-long loan from Atalanta this summer.

With the backline and frontline already addressed, the next area of focus is the goalkeeping department, with a move now agreed for a double deal.

Rangers Close To Ivor Pandur Transfer

Derek McInnes in the Hearts dugout

According to TeamTalk, Rangers are closing in on the signing of Ivor Pandur from Hull City this summer to help with a drastic overhaul between the sticks.

The 26-year-old will join from the newly-promoted Premier League club on a long-term deal, while the move will help push through a second switch elsewhere.

Hull are expected to sign Jack Butland from Rangers in a transfer going the other way, though it is a separate move and not described as a swap deal.

That is due to the Tigers facing financial restrictions upon their surprise return to the top tier of English football, with sales required by the start of next month to comply.

The move for Pandur is believed to be in the region of £6 million, securing a deal for the goalkeeper who has received plenty of plaudits in his time at the MKM Stadium.

That earned him a place in the Croatia squad for the World Cup, though he is currently playing as the second-choice to Dominik Livakovic.

Pandur is expected to undergo a medical in North America to complete a swift deal, while Butland is now set to travel to Hull to complete his move there.

It’s quite the accelerated switch from Rangers, helping to transform the goalkeeping ranks to strengthen the team moving forward.

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What Rangers Need Next

Hearts manager Derek McInnes looks on via Reuters

Rangers have moved quickly to address several issues within the squad, with the goalkeeping changes showing that the club mean business in getting back to the top.

Having already added two defenders, a striker, and a goalkeeper, it would make sense for the transfer business to turn back towards the midfield ranks.

Nicolas Raskin is expected to leave the club, and considering how important he has been in recent seasons, a replacement will certainly be needed.


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Lewis Ferguson has been linked, though a deal with Bologna seems unlikely while they hold out for a large fee to sign the Scotland international.

It remains to be seen who else could be linked with a switch in that position, but Rangers could move quickly to add yet another impressive option to McInnes’s squad.

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Carrick Tells Man Utd Chiefs to Keep Amad Diallo After Sale Rumours

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Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has told the club he wants to keep one player after talk he could be sold this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

After sealing a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Man United chiefs need to give Carrick the squad he needs that will allow him to perform strongly in Europe’s elite club competition alongside the Premier League, following their third-place finish last term.

The Red Devils already have a full agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with the Brazil international expected to complete his move to Old Trafford next month following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.

The addition of the 26-year-old is unlikely to be the club’s last piece of business in midfield, after they identified the position as the priority area to strengthen ahead of next summer.

At least one more addition is expected following the exit of Casemiro, with the club still in talks to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, although they face competition for the Portugal international’s signature from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

It could even be more than one after Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious injury while representing Uruguay in North America.

Romano: Carrick Wants Amad Diallo to Stay at Man United

Amad Diallo in action for Manchester United via Reuters

While Man United are looking to add players to their squad this summer, there will be departures to come too.

Amad Diallo has been linked with a move to AC Milan following Ruben Amorim’s appointment at the San Siro, with the Portuguese manager a big fan of the Ivory Coast international during his spell in charge at Old Trafford.

Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Romano has dismissed rumours that the 23-year-old could return to Serie A following a previous spell with Atalanta, with Carrick telling Red Devils chiefs that the winger is an important part of his plans.

He said: “We also had some rumours from Italy about Amad Diallo, that maybe he can go to Milan. The link with Ruben Amorim.

“Let me clarify one thing, Man United have been clear with Amad Diallo. Amad is not for sale this summer. Manchester United will not let Amad Diallo leave the club in the summer transfer window.

“So, if you see links about Amad, English clubs, Milan and more, Man United want to continue with him. Michael Carrick has confirmed his decision to the club, and so the direction is very clear. Amad Diallo is expected to stay at Manchester United.”

England World Cup Quiz

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Man United Looking at Left-Sided Winger Signing

Michael Carrick Manchester United manager (2026) via Reuters

Diallo plays from the right for United, but it is the opposite flank where they are considering making a signing this summer, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.

United have an appreciation for Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa, but Arsenal are considered favourites to sign the England international as things stand, while there have also been tentative links to other wingers like AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Toure.

Another interesting name mentioned alongside United is Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain, with an exit for the France international more likely if they sign RB Leizpig winger Yan Diomande ahead of Liverpool.

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