Eerie World Cup '22' curse explained as TikTok fuels 'insane' theory
Japan’s heartbreaking exit from the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 has sparked a so-called ‘curse’ conspiracy theory online, with the number 22 being central to the side’s demise.
Despite being behind for long stretches of the game, Brazil managed to keep its tournament hopes alive following a narrow victory over Japan at Houston Stadium in Texas on Tuesday (30 June).
Canarinho put two past Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, including Arsenal’s Gabrielle Martinelli’s last-gasp winner, ending the Blue Samurai’s silverware dreams in the Round of 32.
While Japan get packing, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad will gear up to face Erling Haaland and Norway in the FIFA Men’s World Cup RO16 on Sunday (5 July).
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While some football fans have been mourning Japan’s early tournament exit, others have been using the recent loss to fuel a rampant conspiracy theory centred around the number 22.
Confused? Let us break it down for you.
Japan’s so-called ‘22 World Cup curse’
In numerology, 22 is often referred to as the ‘Master Builder’, carrying ‘immense power’ and representing balance and manifestation, as per experts at Keen Psychic.
In Japanese, the word for 22 is 二十二, read as 'Nijūni’.
Interestingly, the number has become somewhat of an unlucky number for the Samurai Blue.
Sports journalist Kostas Makris has discussed the so-called ‘bizarre curse’, mentioning three occasions of World Cup heartbreak that have featured the number 22.
Flash back to the 2018 tournament; the team were eliminated after Belgium’s Nacer Chadli, who was wearing the double-digit jersey, scored a dramatic goal in the 95th minute to help his side reach the World Cup quarterfinals.
The following tournament in Qatar saw captain Maya Yoshida miss a crucial penalty in a shootout against Croatia.
Yoshida, who plays for LA Galaxy, was wearing a 22 jersey with the World Cup taking place in 2022.
And in 2026, Martinelli, who scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time, was wearing the number 22 shirt.
“Three consecutive World Cups. Three painful exits. Every time, the number 22 played a decisive role,” typed Makris.
“Just an incredible coincidence... or football's most bizarre curse?”
More instances of the 22 ‘curse’
Surprisingly, the number 22 hasn’t just bested Japan on three occasions.
The social media user failed to mention that at the 1998 World Cup, Jamaican number 11, Theodore Whitmore, scored two goals to earn The Reggae Boyz the win. 11 plus 11? 22.
At the 2002 Men’s World Cup, Türkiye’s Ümit Davala was wearing the number 22 shirt when he ended the team’s journey in Miyagi.
And in 2014, Wilfried Bony and Gervinho, who were wearing the number 12 and 10 shirts (22 when added together), respectively, put two past Japan in Brazil for the Ivory Coast to finish two points above them in the Group Stage.
TikTok takes on the conspiracy theory
Now, the journalist isn’t the only person talking about the Samurai Blue’s so-called ‘curse’, with the conspiracy theory also being explored via TikTok.
One user, who goes by the username @zeh.yan, shared a clip montage of all three instances that the team, currently led by Hajime Moriyasu, has seemingly been thwarted by the number 22.
In the comments, one TikTok user described the coincidence as ‘insane’, while someone else joked: “They only rated cuz Blue Lock ngl,” referring to the popular anime series.
“Holy pattern recognition,” a third praised, while a fourth commented: “Never believed in lucky and unlucky numbers till now.”
“Didn’t even realise that’s crazy man,” a fifth added.
Of course, it’s highly unlikely that Japan are actually cursed (unless Danhausen is involved), but you have to admit - it’s a strange sports coincidence, right?
2026 World Cup results so far
Tuesday, 30 June
Round of 32 - Match 75: Netherlands vs Morocco, 1-1 (3-2)
Monday, 29 June
Round of 32 - Match 76: Brazil vs Japan, 2-1
Round of 32 - Match 74: Germany vs Paraguay, 1-1 (4-3)
Sunday, 28 June
Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, 0-0
Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, 3-1
Group J: Algeria vs Austria, 3-3
Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, 3-1
Round of 32 - Match 73: South Africa vs Canada, 1-0
Saturday, 27 June
Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, 0-0
Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, 1-0
Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, 5-1
Group G: Egypt vs Iran, 1-1
Group L: Panama vs England, 2-0
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, 2-1
Friday, 26 June
Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, 5-0
Group I: Norway vs France, 4-1
Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, 3-1
Group F: Japan vs Sweden, 1-1
Group D: Türkiye vs USA, 3-2
Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, 0-0
Thursday, 25 June
Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, 1-0
Group A: Mexico vs Czech Republic, 3-0
Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Ecuador, 2-1
Wednesday, 24 June
Group C: Brazil vs Scotland, 3-0
Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, 4-2
Group B: Qatar vs Bosnia-Herzegovnia, 3-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, 2-1
Group L: Panama vs Croatia, 1-0
Group L: Colombia vs DR Congo, 1-0
Tuesday, 23 June
Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 3-2
Group J: Algeria vs Jordan, 2-1
Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 5-0
Group L: England vs Ghana, 0-0
Monday, 22 June
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 1-3
Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 2-0
Group I: France vs Iraq, 3-0
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao, 0-0
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 0-4
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 0-0
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 4-0
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 2-2
Saturday, 20 June
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 3-0
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 0-1
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 2-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 5-1
Friday, 19 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 1-0
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 0-1
Group D: USA vs Australia, 2-0
Thursday 18 June
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 1-0
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 1-3
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, 1-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-1
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 6-0
Wednesday 17 June
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 1-1
Group L: England vs Croatia, 4-2
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 3-0
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 3-1
Tuesday 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 2-2
Group I: France vs Senegal, 3-1
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 1-4
Monday, 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 1-0
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 5-1
Sunday, 14 June
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 0-1
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 7-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 2-2
Saturday, 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 4-1
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 1-1
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 1-1
Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 2-1
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1-1
Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 2-0
Topics: Sport, World Cup, World News, Social Media
Ella Scott