World Cup Day 4: Netherlands vs Japan, Curacao debut, prediction, schedule
The Netherlands face Japan in a must-watch game as World Cup Day 4 brings predictions, key fixtures and other headlines. Day four of the FIFA
The Netherlands face Japan in a must-watch game as World Cup Day 4 brings predictions, key fixtures and other headlines. Day four of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has a lot in store for fans. The headline event on Sunday is the Netherlands vs Japan group match: a clash of the three-time runners-up and one of the strongest Asian teams. We will also witness history being made as Curacao become the smallest-ever nation to play at the World Cup, when they begin their tournament by facing Germany. Ecuador – counted among the tournament’s darkhorses – are also in action, facing Ivory Coast, while Sweden face Tunisia as they return after missing the last edition. Away from the football, basketball fever engulfed New York, as the Knicks were crowned NBA champions, taking the spotlight away from the World Cup in the United States. Which are the World Cup games today? Germany vs Curacao: NRG Stadium, Houston – 12pm local (17:00 GMT) Netherlands vs Japan: AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 2pm local (20:00 GMT) Ivory Coast vs Ecuador: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 7pm local (23:00 GMT) Sweden vs Tunisia: Estadio Monterrey, Guadulpe – 7:30pm local (02:00 GMT Sunday) Netherlands face Japan in must-watch group game Sunday’s match between the Netherlands and Japan is among Al Jazeera’s top-five must-watch group games of the 2026 World Cup. Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Netherlands kick off Group F with an exciting meeting with Japan, who are capable of pulling off major upsets, having defeated both Germany and Spain in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. After reaching the final three times, the Dutch – by their own admission – are putting pressure on themselves to go all the way in North America. While the Netherlands’ previous golden generation – the 1988 Euro-winning team – could not replicate their continental success on the global stage, Ronald Koeman’s current crop of players has the talent and calibre.
And for the first time, have an outside chance of lifting the trophy. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Koeman told reporters on Saturday. “We want to go far in the tournament. We have a strong team and we know what we need to improve to have a real chance. “But we need to take it one game at a time. We need to focus first on Japan, which will be a difficult game.” Boasting the likes of high-profile players such as Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo, the Dutch are ones to watch in the opening round of the expanded 48-team World Cup. Japan, though, will look to spoil their party. Coach Hajime Moriyasu knows his side face a battle to get through a challenging group if the Samurai Blue are to deliver on his dream of going into uncharted territory at the World Cup. “We have to survive this stage no matter what, but at the same time I see that it is a very tough group,” said Moriyasu, who took Japan into the last 16 at the finals in Qatar. “The top of the top talent is found in the Netherlands team. Japan have never won a game in the knockout phase of the World Cup, losing on each of their four previous appearances in the last 16, and Moriyasu’s side go into the finals without influential captain Wataru Endo. But watch out for Ayase Ueda, Takefusa Kubo, Junya Ito and Daichi Kamada. Netherlands vs Japan prediction Stats provider Opta’s supercomputer has given the Netherlands a 50.2 percent chance of winning this Group F match against Japan, who have 24.5 percent odds of victory. There is a 25.2 percent chance of a draw. Overall, the Dutch are frontrunners to come out on top in this group, with a 49.46 percent chance.
The BriefWire