The Netherlands tackle Japan in Group F’s curtain-raiser on Sunday, in some of the eye-catching fixtures of the 2026 World Cup to date.
The AT&T Stadium, dwelling of the Dallas Cowboys, will provide the backdrop for a recreation between arguably the best nation but to win soccer’s largest prize and many individuals’s decide for match darkish horses.
The Oranje, underneath the stewardship of legendary defender Ronald Koeman, will likely be trying to go deep into the competitors having skilled combined fortunes in latest editions – from runners-up in 2010 to third-place in 2014; not qualifying in 2018 to a last-eight look 4 years later.
However they may meet a Japanese facet in scintillating kind. The Samurai Blue breezed via qualifying to succeed in their eighth-straight finals, scoring greater than 50 targets within the course of.
Current pleasant outcomes have solely additional bolstered perception, with six wins on the bounce, together with notable victories over Brazil and England.
Netherlands group information
The Netherlands boss sticks with the identical beginning group that beat Uzbekistan 2-1 within the Netherlands’ ultimate pre-tournament pleasant.
Memphis Depay, who’s match once more, begins on the bench.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven, Gravenberch, De Jong, Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo, Malen.
Japan group information
9 of the Japan beginning eleven began within the victory over England at Wembley again in March.
Takefusa Kubo and Daizen Maeda are available in for Junya Ito and the injured Kaoru Mitoma.
Japan XI: Z. Suzuki; Watanabe, Taniguchi, H. Ito, Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura, Kubo, Maeda, Ueda.
The place to observe Netherlands v Japan
Netherlands versus Japan kicks off on Sunday at 9pm UK time. You may watch it on ITV 1 and stream by way of ITVX.
Click on HERE for a full World Cup TV information
Stats for Netherlands v Japan
- This would be the Netherlands’ twelfth World Cup look. No different group has completed runner-up as usually because the Dutch with out ever successful the trophy (3 times – 1974, 1978, 2010).
- The Netherlands have gained 54.5% of their matches on the World Cup (30 out of 55, shoot-outs excluded) and solely Brazil (66.7%) and Germany (60.7%) have a better win charge within the historical past of the match. The Dutch are additionally solely 4 away from reaching 100 targets on the World Cup.
- Excluding penalty shootouts, the Netherlands have misplaced solely considered one of their final 19 World Cup matches (W14 D4). That sole defeat got here within the 2010 ultimate towards Spain (0-1 after further time). In the meantime, their final loss in a bunch stage match dates again to 1994, a 0-1 defeat to Belgium.
- This will likely be Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup look – a run stretching again to 1998. It’s the second-longest run of consecutive participations by an Asian nation behind Korea
Republic’s present run of 11 consecutive World Cup tournaments. - Japan have by no means superior past the spherical of 16 on the World Cup. Actually, they maintain the document for probably the most matches performed with out ever reaching the quarter-finals on the match (25).
- Japan scored extra targets than every other group within the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup –
they discovered the web 54 instances, which included a 3-0 forfeit victory towards North Korea. Exterior of the
hosts, Japan have been the primary nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
