Netherlands vs Japan
It’s going to be a bigger World Cup 2026 than ever before – 48 nations and 104 matches played over 39 days across 16 host cities in three countries.
And with those 16 extra nations this time, featuring squads of 26 players, no fewer than 1,248 players will take part.
Many of them won’t kick a ball, of course, and absent friends are uppermost in the thoughts as Holland and Japan prepare to deliver World Cup 2026 highlights.
Talking Points
It’s off to Dallas we go (for readers of a certain vintage, think JR!).
Losing finalists on three occasions, the Netherlands may well be the greatest footballing nation never to have won the trophy.
I don’t think they are going to come close this time around though.
Looking ahead to their friendly against Uzbekistan earlier this week – a match they won 2-1 thanks to two Cody Gapko penalties – I highlighted the injuries Oranje are currently facing.
That has been further exacerbated after full-back Jurrien Timber, whose first game in a few months was when he came off the bench in the recent Champions League final, was ruled out due to the same recurring groin injury
In addition, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is a doubt for their opener, although the hip injury he suffered against Uzbekistan, when he landed heavily, is not long-term, and he has a good replacement in Mark Flekken of Bayer Leverkusen.
Holland were unbeaten during their qualifying campaign, topping a group containing Poland, Finland, Malta and Lithuania. They had to wait until the final round to secure their spot, pipping runners-up Poland thanks to a comfortable 4-0 win over Lithuania.
Under Ronald Koeman, the Dutch are again capable of reaching the quarter-finals but I suspect that will be where their journey ends.
As for Japan, some pundits are tipping them as dark horses.
They have also suffered a blow with another Premier League man, Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma, ruled out of the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury towards the end of the Premier League campaign.
Outside the three co-hosts’ automatic qualification, Japan were the first nation to reach the 2026 World Cup. Dominant in Asian qualifying, they progressed from a second-phase group which included Saudi Arabia and Australia with three games to spare, losing just once across 16 matches.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has been in charge for nearly eight years and historic victories over Germany and Spain at the last World Cup proved they are capable of producing much more than just a one-off upset.
Leading the line is Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, who has just claimed the Eredivisie Golden Boot, scoring an impressive 25 goals in 31 appearances.
At the other end of the pitch, Hiroki Ito also offers a rare combination of size, versatility and technical quality and the fact a Japanese defender now plays for Bayern Munich gives added kudos to how the landscape of the country’s football has changed.
Japan used 65 players across 13 matches in 2025. As a comparison, England used just 37 under Thomas Tuchel in 10 games.
Whether that means they have great squad depth, that Moriyasu is undecided on his best team or there is not too much difference in quality between a host of players remains to be seen.
The next month or so will provide us with some glimpses.
History
They’ve met three times in history – once competitively – and that was in the 2010 World Cup, a tournament when Holland reached the final.
It was a Group E contest in Durban where Wesley Sneijder netted the only goal eight minutes into the second half.
The other two matches have both been friendlies.
In September 2009 in Enschede, Holland ran out 3-0 winners, courtesy of goals from Robin van Persie, Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
Genk was the venue for a 2013 friendly when the nations shared four goals.
Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben put Oranje into the ascendancy before Yūya Osako and Keisuke Honda were on target either side of the break to earn Japan a 2-2 draw.
Betting Tip
Holland are clear favourites with the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds but perhaps not as much as you’d think.
They can be backed 1X2 @ 2.05 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.05 and -0.75 @ 2.42.
Japan, meanwhile, are priced 1X2 @ 3.55 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.11.
The draw is on offer @ 3.42, while goal options range from over 2.75 @ 2.26 to total goal 0-1 @ 3.02, 2-3 @ 1.97 and 4-6 @ 3.45.
A re-run of their last meeting, Correct Score 2-2, will pay out @ 15.50.
I do think it will be close but, even accounting for their injury woes, I believe Holland will have too much which is why my ** prediction is Half Time Full Time Draw Home @ 5.30.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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