This Sunday, the Netherlands and Japan star in one of the most attractive matches of the first day of the 2026 World Cup at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The Orange, three-time finalist of the tournament, seeks to begin with authority his path towards a title that has historically eluded him, while the Blue Samurai They will try to confirm the growth they have shown in recent years. It will be only the second meeting between both teams in a World Cup, after the Dutch victory 1-0 in South Africa 2010.
Japan arrives backed by a statistic that commands respect. Since 2021, they have accumulated nine consecutive games without losing against European teams, a streak that includes victories against Germany and Spain in Qatar 2022, as well as victories as a visitor against Scotland and England. Their last defeat against a UEFA team was in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup in Russia against Belgium.
The match promises to be one of the most balanced and attractive of the initial phase. The Netherlands is the favorite due to its tradition and individual quality, but Japan has shown that it can compete on equal terms against the European powers.
With two different playing styles and high ambitions, both teams will seek to strike the first blow in a Group F that is emerging as one of the most demanding of the tournament.
Follow the minute by minute of this meeting live on PrensaLibre.com here: