Netherlands vs Japan LIVE: Team news and Memphis Depay latest ahead of World Cup clash | OneFootball

The Netherlands kick off their World Cup campaign with a tough test against a Japan side tipped by plenty to progress deep in this year’s tournament.

The Dutch have never won the competition, reaching the final three times but losing on each occasion. If an elusive title feels unlikely this year, there is still plenty of quality at the disposal of Ronald Koeman, who has been boosted by the return to fitness of record Dutch scorer Memphis Depay ahead of the action getting underway.

This, however, could be a tricky opening fixture. Japan topped their group four years ago above Spain and Germany, and hopes are high that they might progress beyond the round of 16 this time around for the first time. With Sweden and Tunisia the other members of an intriguing group, a good start may be crucial.

How are the Netherlands shaping up?

The Dutch may only be eighth favourites before the World Cup began, according to most bookmakers, but they say defences win tournaments and Netherlands have one of the best in North America this summer.

The captain, Virgil van Dijk, was set to be paired with Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber in the heart of the backline alongside Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven at left-back and Denzel Dumfries – who is due to sign for Real Madrid from Inter – at right-back. That is before you get to Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

An injury to Timber has seen him withdraw from the squad with Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida called up instead.

Ronald Koeman can call upon an impressive midfield, too, of Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders – it is just a pity for the Netherlands that Xavi Simons has been ruled out by injury.

Unusually for a Dutch team, it is the attacking options which are a little thin. But Donyell Malen found astonishing form on loan at Roma this season, scoring 14 goals since joining from Aston Villa in January, and he is likely to lead the line.

Mike Jones14 June 2026 19:06

World Cup 2026 – Group F guide

Group F looks on paper like one of the most intriguing of the 2026 World Cup, with four sides who will all fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.

The Netherlands may not have the attacking firepower of previous generations, but they have vast quality and experience in defence and midfield, and will start the group as the favourites to take top spot. But they face competition from a talented Japanese side who are ranked 18th in the world, a Swedish team with outstanding forward players, and a hard-to-beat Tunisian outfit.

With the newly expanded 48-team format, there is the potential for an odd situation in which it is preferable to qualify finishing third than it is to finish second, where Brazil are likely to await in the round of 32. It also means there will be a strong incentive to win the group, and that should make it all the more interesting to watch.

Lawrence Ostlere14 June 2026 18:54

Empty seats at another World Cup match after ticket price controversy

The World Cup 2026 match between Switzerland and Qatar played out in front of hundreds of empty seats to raise further questions about Fifa’s ticket prices for the tournament.

The Group B clash at the 70,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco on Saturday was the first game to be staged in the United States not involving the co-hosts and it failed to sell out.

Empty seats at another World Cup match after ticket price controversy

The Group B match between Qatar and Switzerland was the first match to be taking place in the United States not involving the host nation

Jamie Braidwood14 June 2026 18:48

Two arrested for peace officer assault at Canada vs Bosnia

Toronto police arrested two men “associated with a Bosnian fan group” during Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, it has been revealed.

The Toronto Police Service confirmed in a statement that the two men, of Germany and aged 25 and 27, were both arrested and charged for assaulting a peace officer after forces were called to an altercation in the stands at the Toronto Stadium around 2.20pm local time on Friday afternoon.

The Toronto Police Association warned on X: “We’re glad you’re here to enjoy the World Cup but please do so safely.

“Never put your hands on a police officer. They will arrest you. You will be charged. Our holding cells do not have TVs. You will miss the game you came to enjoy.”

US World Cup ticket prices skyrocket after win over Paraguay

Fans eager to join the United States men's national team's World Cup journey are facing rapidly escalating ticket prices on the resale market, with some matches seeing over a 60 percent jump in just three days.

This dramatic surge follows the USMNT's impressive 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening match on Friday, igniting a wave of optimism among supporters.

The "get-in price" for the upcoming group stage clash against Australia now starts at $1,735, according to TicketData. The Americans' Group D finale on 25 June against Turkey back in Los Angeles, has seen an even greater proportional spike over the same stretch, with the get-in price up 73 percent to $1,516.

Will Castle14 June 2026 18:36

England engulfed by disruption as they arrive in Kansas City

England have arrived at their World Cup home away from home in Kansas City, the day after it emerged that equipment had been stolen from their base.

Some of the team’s boots and official tournament balls were discovered stolen on Friday, though Football Association sources have indicated the majority of the equipment, which wasn’t irreplaceable, has now been recovered.

The incident is expected to have no impact on the preparations of Thomas Tuchel’s team, but that isn’t the only extraordinary incident that’s hit the camp over the past few days.

It also emerged that England’s team chef was stopped from boarding a train to Orlando ahead of Wednesday’s warm-up clash with Costa Rica... because of his cooking knives!

And now, on their first night in Missouri, the Kansas City region has been hit by a tornado. They’ll hope this isn’t an omen for their campaign to come.

Will Castle14 June 2026 18:30

Ghana respond after Thomas Partey denied entry into Canada

Ghana have spoken out against the “flimsy” grounds on which Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada for the 2026 World Cup, with sports minister Kofi Adams urging a review of the decision.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder will, as it stands, miss Ghana’s World Cup opener on Wednesday against Panama in Toronto after being denied a Canadian visa. The 33-year-old has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

"If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it," Adams told local station Channel One TV on Friday.

"Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting for them to use all processes to review and give opportunity for a review of such a decision that we think frowns on international laws and conventions, which both Ghana and Canada are party to.”

Will Castle14 June 2026 18:24

Controversy surrounds Switzerland penalty in Qatar draw

Switzerland were punished for playing with their food as Qatar snatched a last-gasp equaliser in their controversial Group B opener, delivering the country a first ever World Cup point.

Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead from the spot early on, though the penalty was engulfed in contention after it was undetermined whether the player fouled was offside or not. No replay was shown, with Gary Neville labelling Fifa “a dictatorship” for a lack of transparency. Fifa later explained in a statement that a “a brief technical outage” had prevented the images being broadcast.

The Swiss took control of the game from that moment, and it didn’t look like they would cease it. But after failing to add to their lead with 26 efforts on goal, Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi wrote himself into history in the 94th minute, heading home to open Group B right up.

A seismic moment for Qatari football, the match was still played out in front of noticeable patches of empty seats, despite the official attendance claiming the 68,500-capacity Levi’s Stadium was 99.2 percent full.

Everything you missed from day three at World Cup 2026

Will Castle14 June 2026 18:18

Everything you missed from day three at World Cup 2026

Scotland mark first World Cup in 28 years with win

We begin with a World Cup party in Boston. Scotland are back on the global stage for the first time in 28 years... and they have a win to their name.

John McGinn got the decisive goal, firing a deflected effort beyond Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide after a brilliant Ben Gannon-Doak cross forced the issue.

Haiti, who never looked out of the game, fought until the very end in search of an equaliser, with striker Frantzdy Pierrot seeing a late header go agonisingly wide in what was probably the Caribbean nation's best chance of the game.

But by clinging onto their clean sheet, Scotland were able to get the win over the line in a legacy-defining triumph for Steve Clarke. A huge boost to their hopes of getting into the knockouts, his side now go straight to the TOP of Group B after Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in New York.

Will Castle14 June 2026 18:12