Netherlands - Japan: score, highlights and statistics

Netherlands and Japan kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns in Group F at AT&T Stadium in Dallas - a fixture that could define which nation claims top spot in one of the tournament's most competitive groups.

Match Info: Netherlands vs Japan

The match between Netherlands and Japan takes place on Sunday, 14 June 2026, at 21:00 BST (20:00 UTC) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Dallas, as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F stage.

Where to Watch Netherlands vs Japan?

In the United States, the match is broadcast on FOX on television, with streaming alternatives on Peacock, Fubo TV, Foxsports.com, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, plus the radio stream Futbol de Primera Radio. In Canada, the match is available on TSN+.

Dutch fans can follow the match online via NPO Start, while Japanese supporters have access through NHK on television and DAZN as a streaming option. Viewers in Australia can stream the match on SBS On Demand, and fans in New Zealand can use TVNZ+.

Across Europe, France offers coverage on 6play and beIN SPORTS CONNECT F.R., Spain has the match on DAZN España, and Italy broadcasts through DAZN Italia. In Latin America, Brazil carries the match on CazéTV, Argentina on DIRECTV Sports Argentina and DIRECTV GO, and Mexico on VIX. Poland can watch on TVP 1 and TVP Sport on TV, and on sport.tvp.pl or the TVP Sport App online.

Netherlands vs Japan - Match Preview

Netherlands, three-time World Cup finalists seeking their first-ever title, open against Japan - a side that defeated England at Wembley in March 2026 and is widely regarded as one of the tournament's most dangerous dark horses.

Ronald Koeman's Netherlands arrive in Dallas with the weight of history on their shoulders. No nation has reached three World Cup finals without lifting the trophy, and this squad carries that legacy. The spine of the team is formidable: Virgil van Dijk anchors the backline, Ryan Gravenberch and Frenkie de Jong control the midfield rhythm, and up front Memphis Depay - the all-time leading scorer with 55 goals in 108 caps - partners Cody Gakpo. A 0-1 friendly loss to Algeria just 11 days before the tournament served as a timely reminder that the Dutch must be far more clinical in front of goal.

Japan's preparation has been near-perfect in terms of results - 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, and 0 goals conceded in their last 5 matches - but coach Hajime Moriyasu faces a significant squad problem. Star wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino are both ruled out through injury. Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad and Keito Nakamura, who scored 10 goals in his first 24 international caps, take on the mantle of leading the attacking line. Japan's tactical discipline and defensive solidity make them a side the Netherlands cannot afford to underestimate.

Head-to-Head: Netherlands vs Japan

Netherlands and Japan have met 3 times in history, with the Dutch winning 2 and drawing 1 - their only World Cup encounter ended 1-0 to the Netherlands in the 2010 Group E stage in Durban, part of a flawless group campaign that yielded 9 points from 9.

Here are all previous meetings between the two nations:

• 5 September 2009 - International Friendly - Netherlands 3-0 Japan
• 19 June 2010 - 2010 FIFA World Cup, Group E - Netherlands 1-0 Japan
• 16 November 2013 - International Friendly - Japan 2-2 Netherlands

Netherlands - Recent Form

Netherlands recorded 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss across their last 5 matches, scoring 8 goals and conceding 4 - a mixed picture that points to creativity in attack and some fragility when facing organised opposition.

The brightest results in that run were a commanding 4-0 victory over Lithuania in November 2025 and a 2-1 win against Norway the following March. However, they twice failed to break down resolute opposition, drawing 1-1 with both Ecuador and Poland. The low point came on 3 June 2026: a 0-1 defeat to Algeria in their final warm-up, despite dominating possession and hitting the woodwork early in the match.

Koeman's side possess quality in every area of the pitch, but those draws and that pre-tournament defeat signal that the Dutch must sharpen their finishing against a Japanese side that has not conceded in 5 consecutive matches. Gravenberch, Gakpo, and Reijnders have the technical ability to unlock Japan's defensive block - the question is whether they can do it on the night.

Japan - Recent Form

Japan enter the 2026 World Cup on a five-match winning run with 8 goals scored and none conceded - a defensive record as impressive as any side heading into the tournament.

The standout results were the 1-0 victories over England at Wembley and Scotland away from home in March 2026 - back-to-back wins on British soil that announced Moriyasu's squad as a genuine threat in North America. Before that, Japan dismantled Bolivia 3-0 and Ghana 2-0 in November 2025, showing clinical efficiency when presented with space.

The injury absences of Mitoma and Minamino remove 2 of Japan's most direct attacking weapons, but Kubo's creativity and Nakamura's prolific scoring record give Moriyasu enough firepower to trouble any defence. If Japan's defensive resilience holds against the Netherlands, they are fully capable of making a statement on the opening day of Group F.

Facts and Statistics

5 key statistics about the Netherlands vs Japan rivalry and the 2026 World Cup context:

• Netherlands are the only nation to have reached 3 World Cup finals without winning the tournament (1974, 1978, 2010).
• In 3 all-time meetings, Netherlands have never lost to Japan - 2 wins and 1 draw.
• Japan kept a clean sheet in all 5 of their pre-tournament matches, conceding 0 goals across more than 450 minutes of football.
• Memphis Depay holds the Netherlands all-time scoring record with 55 goals in 108 international appearances.
• Japan defeated England 1-0 at Wembley in March 2026, a result that demonstrated their capacity to beat elite European opposition away from home.