Netherlands and Japan kick off Group F at World Cup 2026: Sellout crowd in Dallas. The opening Group F match between the Netherlands and Japan is underway in Dallas. The stadium is packed to capacity, and the lineups from both teams have surprised fans. The game promises to be one of the most intense at the start of the tournament.
One of the most anticipated matches of the first round in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off at AT&T Stadium in Dallas—a clash between the Netherlands and Japan. An hour before kickoff, the stands were nearly full, and the atmosphere resembled the tournament’s final stages. Both coaches opted for attacking football: Ronald Koeman stuck with his usual 4-3-3 system and gave a starting spot to Crysencio Summerville, while Hajime Moriyasu picked an aggressive 3-4-3 scheme for Japan, focusing on rapid wing play.
Team lineups drew significant interest from fans and experts. Japan is without key midfielder Wataru Endo, who was left out of the squad for this match and will be replaced. For the Netherlands, there is doubt surrounding starting goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who was injured in their final warm-up game. According to Koeman, the decision on his inclusion was made at the very last moment.
Special attention is on two players: for Japan—striker Aise Ueda from Feyenoord, regarded as the country’s most promising forward in recent years; for the Netherlands—Summerville, a product of the ADO Den Haag academy who made an impression during a challenging season at English club West Ham and now has secured a place in the national starting lineup.
Group F has already been dubbed one of the toughest at the tournament: every match here could prove decisive for reaching the playoffs. Alongside the Netherlands and Japan, the quartet also includes the national teams of Tunisia and Uzbekistan. In the previous match, the Dutch secured a win over Uzbekistan, adding intrigue to the battle for the top spot. As noted by russpain.com, opening matches in other groups, such as Germany versus Curaçao, are also taking place in sold-out stadiums with unexpected staffing decisions — details on group E's kickoff.
Among the fans in the stands are Dutch football legends—Krul, Sneijder, and Huntelaar—supporting the team alongside the "orange wave" of fans. The Japanese delegation has also arrived in full force, and the national colors of both countries dominate the stadium. Organizers note the high level of interest in the match: tickets were sold out well in advance, and the broadcast is available on DAZN and at the AS editorial office.
For reference: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being held in the USA, and the tournament format has been expanded to 48 teams. In Group F, each match could be decisive for the final standings. The Netherlands and Japan are traditionally seen as teams capable of causing surprises at major tournaments. The attention to Group F's kickoff is due not only to the high-profile teams but also to the diversity of footballing styles and schools represented. You can follow the developments on official broadcasters' platforms and in news feeds.
