Netherlands Open World Cup Against Japan in Dallas on 14 June
The Netherlands and Japan will meet in a Group F opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 14 June 2026, in Dallas, in what marks only the second World Cup encounter between the two nations. The Netherlands won the first meeting 1-0 in 2010. The match will be broadcast on FOX.
The Netherlands arrive having qualified directly through UEFA Group G, finishing first with 20 points from an unbeaten campaign. They closed qualifying with a 4-0 victory over Lithuania. Their most recent World Cup appearance ended at the quarterfinal stage in Qatar in 2022, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Argentina on penalties. The Dutch had missed the 2018 tournament entirely, making their return to form under the current setup notable.
Japan enter the tournament having become the first nation outside the three host countries to secure a 2026 World Cup berth, qualifying as group winners in the Asian confederation. The Samurai Blue have now qualified for eight consecutive World Cups, spanning 1998 through 2026, the longest active streak among Asian nations. Their best finish at the tournament remains the Round of 16. According to the draft, Japan arrive on a run of six consecutive international victories, a sequence that included wins over Brazil and England.
A Netherlands win would place them in an early commanding position in Group F, while a Japan victory would extend a momentum-driven run and bring the Samurai Blue a step closer to a first-ever quarterfinal appearance. The result in Dallas will shape both teams' trajectories through the remainder of the group stage.
