Netherlands and Japan Open 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F in Dallas

The Netherlands and Japan met in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday to open Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was held at AT&T Stadium and commenced at 4 p.m. ET.

Early in the game, the score was 0-0 by the 9th minute. The Netherlands created immediate pressure, forcing New Jersey-born goalkeeper Zion Suzuki into a save. Japan subsequently gained possession in Dutch territory, earning a free kick.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has guided his team to consistent performance, reaching the semifinals of the European Championships two years prior. The squad is described as solid and technical. Key players for the Dutch include Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven, Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, and Memphis Depay. An injury concern for the Dutch was goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, with Mark Flekken and Robin Roefs available as backup options.

Japan, considered a potential dark horse, is ranked within the top 20 globally and aimed to build on their last-16 finish in the 2022 World Cup. Their attacking lineup features Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo, and Koki Ogawa. Captain Wataru Endo was unable to recover from injury for the tournament, but Japan's midfield options include Daichi Kamada and Ao Tanaka.

The match was available for live viewing on Telemundo and streaming on Peacock. According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, the publication predicted a 2-1 victory for Japan in the fixture.

(Source: Yahoo Sports Soccer)