Qatar World Cup: Why Japan tidy up after games and one team brings sword to pitch - five surprising facts from tournament

This World Cup has not been short of drama, intrigue and controversy on and off the pitch.

From the ongoing row over the OneLove armband to the stunning upsets of Saudi Arabia beating Argentina and Japan overturning Germany, there's been much to discuss about the goings on in Qatar.

But amid all that excitement, there are some facts about the tournament that may have passed football fans by.

Canada have brought a sword to the tournament

The Canadian football team do not regularly qualify for the World Cup, having only appeared once before at Mexico 1986, so it isn't surprising that they are something of an unknown quantity to most fans.

However, what is surprising is how the team started the tournament. Their coach, John Herdman, has an unconventional way of inspiring his team: driving a sword into the centre of pitch.

Before every game the blade is stabbed into the kick-off spot to represent the team "owning their ground". Herdman says that the weapon demonstrates the "swagger we want to play with".

The blade, which was made by a Toronto based swordsmith called Steve Karakostas, is emblazoned with the words "Qatar 2022" and the Latin phrase "Nihil Timendum Est" meaning "nothing to fear". That phrase, according to the team, is emblematic of their attacking approach to the game.

Midfielder Jonathan Osorio told the Athletic: "It symbolises the warrior (spirit) of our team. It's our weapon. It represents our ambition."

Why the Japanese team and fans tidy up after games

Cleanliness is not a word often associated with football, but it has become synonymous with the fans and players of Japan.

Tidying up the stadium has long been a tradition among Japanese fans, but it was first noticed on the international stage when the country co-hosted the World Cup with South Korea in 2002.

Despite them having done it at the following five tournaments, it still leaves fans from other countries baffled as to why they do it. However, the reason is quite straightforward.

Being polite is very important in Japan and they find it very shameful to offend people from different cultures, even accidentally, so they strive to be the perfect guests. That's why the fans can often be seen collecting litter, and the team invariably leave their dressing room spotless.

There are 37 French-born players in the tournament not playing for France

France have taken 26 players to the World Cup, but there will be far more players born in the country at the tournament who won't be donning the iconic blue shirt.

A total of 37 French-born players have been selected by other nations playing in Qatar, many playing for African nations. Ten members of the Tunisian squad were born in France along with nine players representing Senegal.

There are also two French-born players in the Moroccan squad, which is the only nation to be taking a majority of foreign-born players with a total of 14 of their 26-man squad being born abroad.

England's Jude Bellingham becomes the first player born in the 21st century to score at a World Cup

In a stat that is sure to make some readers start to feel a little old, this tournament has seen the first goal scored by a player born after the turn of the millennium.

When 19-year-old Jude Bellingham slotted England's first of six goals past Iran, he became the first son of the 21st century to score at World Cup.

His birthday is 29 June 2003.

First manager to coach both a men's and women's team at a World Cup

John Herdman became the first manager to have coached teams at both the men's and women's World Cup Finals after Canada's hard-fought 1-0 loss to Belgium.

Before taking the reins of the Canadian men's team, the 47-year-old, originally from County Durham, had been in charge of the women's squad and took them to the quarter-final of the tournament, which was also hosted by Canada.

It was his sterling performance with the women's team that led to him taking the job as the men's coach, a role that has seen him raise Canada's world ranking from 72 to a record high of 33 in February 2022.