Netherlands and Japan faced each other in one of the most anticipated Sunday fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening round, meeting at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Dutch, three-time World Cup runners-up, started as favourites, but Japan came in with impressive recent form that made this a genuine contest.

The Netherlands reached the World Cup final in 1974, 1978, and 2010 without winning on any occasion. Their squad for 2026 draws from a core of Bundesliga and Premier League talent. Their head coach said Japan should not be underestimated, pointing to their track record of high-profile upsets against European sides in recent tournaments.

Japan arrived in North America having gone unbeaten in their last six competitive matches. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japan beat Germany and Spain in the group stage before falling in the Round of 16 on penalties. That run established them as a side capable of defeating any opponent on a given day, and their 2026 squad carried the same tactical discipline that defined that campaign.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the NFL‘s Dallas Cowboys, was close to full for Sunday’s fixture. The Dutch are represented in the Dallas area’s international community, and orange sections were visible in the stadium from early in the day. Japanese supporters also traveled in significant numbers, reflecting the country’s growing World Cup fanbase outside Asia.

The match carried weight for the broader Group F standings. A Netherlands win would be expected but would open a gap over Japan early in the group stage. A Japan victory would immediately mark them as a threat in the knockout rounds and continue a streak of upsets against traditional European football powers. A draw would serve both sides reasonably well.

The result was not confirmed before publication time. The match concluded Sunday evening in Texas, with fans in Japan watching live in the early hours of Monday morning at public viewing events across Tokyo and Osaka. The Group F race will take clearer shape once all opening fixtures are complete. Day 5 included five opening-round matches across four venues. Germany’s 4-0 result in the same group earlier Sunday set a high standard. Asian sides have already shown strong form in the tournament’s first week.