Monkey D. Luffy, the iconic captain from One Piece, is trading his pirate adventures for the soccer pitch in a special collaboration marking the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. A new cover illustration revealed in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine depicts Luffy sporting the distinctive blue uniform of the Japanese National Soccer Team, also known as Samurai Blue.
The artwork features Luffy holding a soccer ball, with his signature straw hat also recolored to match the team's signature blue. This crossover celebrates the global sporting event, which is set to kick off on June 11 and conclude on July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will expand to 48 national teams this year.
Japan's national team is scheduled to play their opening match against the Netherlands on June 14. The FIFA World Cup 2026 final match will take place on July 19.
Source: Weekly Shonen Jump (via Anime News Network)
