One Piece is getting behind Japan's soccer team with a timely World Cup collaboration. The franchise posted a video at midnight on June 1st featuring iconic scenes from the manga series blended with imagery of the Samurai Blue (Japan's national football team) throughout the years. The video's grand finale shows Monkey D. Luffy dressed in the Samurai Blue uniform, complete with a blue-tinted version of his signature straw hat, holding a soccer ball.

The collaboration teased its arrival with a teaser image posted 24 hours earlier—a hand reaching for Luffy's reimagined blue straw hat—and the illustration previously appeared on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.

About the 2026 World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will run from June 11 through July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This tournament marks the first time 48 national teams will compete in the group stage, with the top 32 advancing to the knockout rounds. Japan's first match is scheduled for June 14 at 4:00 p.m. ET against the Netherlands at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The championship final takes place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

One Piece's timing makes sense—the franchise has a massive international following, and Luffy's underdog spirit and determination align perfectly with sports competition messaging. The collaboration gives One Piece fans a reason to tune in for Japan's matches while giving the Samurai Blue squad a morale boost from one of anime's biggest properties.

For fans who want to check out the full collaboration video, it's available on the official One Piece Instagram and YouTube channels.