Netherlands vs Japan — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-081CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026

Netherlands

2–2

Japan

Match events

V. van Dijkassist R. Gravenberch51'1–0
C. Summerville61'
C. Summervilleassist R. Gravenberch64'2–1
D. MalenOn: M. Depay70'
C. SummervilleOn: T. Koopmeiners70'
T. ReijndersOn: Q. Timber70'
R. GravenberchOn: N. Ake81'
M. Depay83'
C. GakpoOn: B. Brobbey85'
M. van de Ven90+1'

1–157'K. Nakamuraassist T. Kubo
66'D. MaedaOn: J. Ito
75'T. WatanabeOn: T. Tomiyasu
75'T. KuboOn: K. Ogawa
75'R. DoanOn: Y. Sugawara
84'A. UedaOn: K. Shiogai
2–288'D. Kamadaassist K. Ogawa

NEDMatch statsJPN

60%Possession40%

10Shots10

6Shots on Target3

5Corners4

7Fouls7

3Yellow Cards0

—

Netherlands — starting XI

4-3-3

Bench

26Quinten Timber
20Teun Koopmeiners
10Memphis Depay
5Nathan Aké
19Brian Brobbey
23Mark Flekken
13Robin Roefs
25Jorrel Hato
2Lutsharel Geertruida
12Mats Wieffer
16Guus Til
3Marten de Roon
7Justin Kluivert
9Wout Weghorst
17Noa Lang

Japan — starting XI

3-4-2-1

Bench

14Junya Ito
2Yukinari Sugawara
22Takehiro Tomiyasu
19Koki Ogawa
26Kento Shiogai
12Keisuke Osako
23Tomoki Hayakawa
20Ayumu Seko
4Ko Itakura
25Junnosuke Suzuki
5Yuto Nagatomo
7Ao Tanaka
17Yuito Suzuki
9Keisuke Goto
6Shuto Machino

All-time meetings

Netherlands wins

Draws

Japan wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

27.8

Average Age

27.8

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

Netherlands

Jun 14

vs Japan

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · AT&T Stadium

2–2

Jun 8

vs Uzbekistan

Friendlies · Friendly International · Icahn Stadium

2–1

Jun 3

vs Algeria

Friendlies · Friendly International · De Kuip

0–1

Mar 31

vs Ecuador

Friendlies · Friendly International · Philips Stadion

1–1

Mar 27

vs Norway

Friendlies · Friendly International · Johan Cruijff Arena

2–1

Japan

Jun 14

at Netherlands

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · AT&T Stadium

2–2

May 31

vs Iceland

Friendlies · Friendly International · New National Stadium

1–0

Mar 31

at England

Friendlies · Friendly International · Wembley Stadium

1–0

Mar 28

at Scotland

Friendlies · Friendly International · Hampden Park

1–0

Nov 18

vs Bolivia

Friendlies · Friendlies 1 · National Olympic Stadium

3–0

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

Left wing vs Right back · Dutch flair meets Japanese steel

Gakpo's directness and pace will test Sugawara's discipline, but the Southampton fullback's Premier League experience gives him the tools to harry and contain. A tactical fascia — if Sugawara is breached early, the Dutch winger could run riot.

Centre-back vs Striker · Colossus vs industry

Van Dijk's towering frame and reading of the game is virtually unmatched at this level, and Suzuki — energetic but less refined — will find little room to manoeuvre. The Liverpool captain should dominate aerially and in transition.

Playmaker vs Playmaker · Pulse of the midfield

Two architects battling for tempo control; Simons' technical range and off-the-ball movement offer more guile, but Dōan's Bundesliga craft and positional intelligence will make this a chess match. Whoever controls this axis shapes the fixture.

06 · Style Clash

Koeman's machine vs Moriyasu's order

The Dutch arrive as Continental favourites, seeking to impose rhythm and suffocate space with their positional superiority. Japan, by contrast, will bank on shape, work-rate, and the occasional counter — a classic David-and-Goliath frame.

// Structural, tempo-driven dominance

Netherlands

// Disciplined, possession-conscious symmetry

Japan

Vertical

Build-out play

Lateral

Aggressive

Press intensity

Compact

Explosive

Wing dominance