The Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against Japan at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Sunday, seeking an immediate advantage in Group F despite navigating a significant injury crisis that has disrupted Ronald Koeman’s tournament preparations.
Both sides aim for a perfect start in a competitive section. The Dutch carry genuine ambition despite suffering a frustrating wave of recent setbacks. Japan arrive in sensational form after securing six consecutive victories, including historic triumphs over Brazil and England, and will deploy their aggressive 3-4-2-1 pressing structure to disrupt the Dutch rhythm.
Netherlands Navigate Injury Turmoil
Ronald Koeman faces one of his toughest selection challenges after a wave of injury blows struck the Dutch squad. Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was ruled out just before the tournament, forcing late adjustments to defensive strategy. Creative linchpin Xavi Simons was not called up due to injury, stripping the midfield of vital inventiveness. Midfielder Jerdy Schouten is similarly unavailable after a serious knee injury.
Memphis Depay arrives with a lingering hamstring problem from his Corinthians club season. The Netherlands’ record goalscorer, with 55 international goals in 109 caps, will be managed carefully. Matthijs de Ligt remains a major doubt following a troublesome back issue, with his involvement in Sunday’s fixture uncertain.
On a more positive note, dynamic full-back Denzel Dumfries has fully recovered from his absence, providing a massive boost to the right flank. Micky van de Ven will partner captain Virgil van Dijk in central defence. Ryan Gravenberch and Frenkie de Jong return to anchor the engine room, providing world-class quality to control possession against Japan’s high-energy press.
Wout Weghorst will lead the line, flanked by Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo. Despite the injury disruptions, Koeman retains sufficient quality to threaten a strong Japan defence.
Japan’s Shock Captain Withdrawal
Japan’s preparations have been rocked by a massive late selection crisis. Captain Wataru Endo withdrew from the squad just three days before the opening match and announced his immediate retirement from international football. The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder had struggled with a foot injury since late February that required surgery. Though initially included in the 26-man roster, he lasted only a half in a warm-up friendly against Iceland on May 31, forcing Moriyasu’s hand.
Talismanic winger Kaoru Mitoma is also unavailable after suffering a tournament-ending hamstring injury. He had scored the winning goal against England before the blow, depriving Japan of their most explosive attacking threat on the left flank. Former Monaco forward Takumi Minamino’s absence further reduces proven goalscoring depth.
Ao Tanaka will replace Endo in midfield, partnering Daiki Sano in the engine room. Hiroki Ito, Ko Itakura, and Shogo Taniguchi will form a resilient back three. Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan will shoulder primary creative responsibilities, while Ayase Ueda leads the line after an extraordinary club campaign, scoring 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord.
Team News
Netherlands: Koeman must navigate the squad without Timber, Simons and Schouten. Depay manages hamstring concerns while De Ligt’s availability remains uncertain. Dumfries returns from injury, and Van de Ven partners Van Dijk in defence. Gravenberch and De Jong form a strong midfield pivot, with Weghorst, Malen and Gakpo in attacking positions.
Japan: Endo’s shock retirement necessitates a midfield reshuffle with Ao Tanaka stepping in. Mitoma’s tournament-ending injury removes their most dangerous winger. Kubo and Doan must provide creativity, while Ueda leads the line for Samurai Blue.
Form Guide
Netherlands: The Dutch enter the tournament after a near-flawless qualifying campaign where they secured six victories from eight matches, scoring 27 goals and conceding only four times. Two qualifying draws against Poland highlighted potential struggles against highly organised defensive units. Recent warm-up friendlies produced mixed results, including a 1-0 defeat against Algeria in Rotterdam before narrowly edging Uzbekistan 2-1 after arriving in the United States. These performances suggest some defensive vulnerabilities despite their strong overall qualifying record, though Koeman’s side arrive as heavy favourites against most opposition.
Japan: Samurai Blue arrives in Dallas riding phenomenal momentum with a six-game winning streak across all competitions, scoring 11 goals. They secured monumental friendly victories over Brazil and England during that exceptional run, demonstrating their capacity to trouble elite European opposition. Japan dominated Asian qualifying, plundering 54 goals and conceding just three times. Their aggressive 3-4-2-1 pressing structure has caused enormous problems for elite opposition recently, making them a genuinely dangerous prospect despite the absence of key creative players.
Predicted Lineups
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van de Ven, Van Dijk, Ake; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Weghorst, Gakpo
Japan: Zion Suzuki; Ito, Itakura, Taniguchi; Sugawara, Sano, Tanaka, Nagatomo; Kubo, Doan; Ueda
Prediction
The Netherlands’ superior quality and possession-based approach should ultimately prevail, but Japan’s recent form and relentless pressing pose a genuine threat. Endo’s shock retirement and Mitoma’s injury are significant blows, yet Ueda’s goal-scoring prowess and the creativity of Kubo and Doan ensure Japan can trouble any defence. The Dutch’s injury concerns, particularly around Depay and De Ligt, may provide opportunities for the Japanese to exploit.
Koeman’s experience and the quality of Gravenberch and De Jong controlling the tempo should prove decisive, though this appears a closer contest than the respective quality of the squads might suggest. Expect the Netherlands to edge a competitive opening fixture.
We say: Netherlands 2-1 Japan
Kick-off: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 21:00 BST, 1:30 am IST (next day)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group F
Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA)
VAR: Joe Dickerson (USA)
Last Meeting: Netherlands 2-2 Japan, November 16, 2013, International Friendly
How to watch: ITV1, BBC One (UK), Fox Sports (USA), Zee5 (India)
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