Netherlands vs Japan Odds, Tips & Predictions: Dutch & Japanese Tussle in Texas

Netherlands and Japan get their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns underway with a tasty Group F fixture in Arlington, Texas. This is one of the standout opening games of the tournament.

The pair have contrasting styles, but they could be tough to separate on the pitch. The Dutch are the favourites, though the Japanese are more than capable of taking all three points at the AT&T Stadium.

Netherlands vs Japan Picks & Preview

According to the latest World Cup Group F odds, Netherlands are the favourites to finish at the top. That said, Ronald Koeman’s men may not have it all their own way in a tricky group. After facing Japan, Oranje play Sweden and Tunisia.

The Dutch are one of the best footballing nations to have never won the World Cup. They have gone close a few times, finishing runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010. However, they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and were knocked out in the quarter-finals in Qatar four years ago.

Japan could be one of the dark horses of the 2026 World Cup. Samurai Blue, coached by Hajime Moriyasu, have a talented team in North America. They will fancy their chances of sealing a top-two place in Group F and going far.

Since failing to qualify for every World Cup from 1970 to 1994, Japan are now making their eighth consecutive tournament appearance. They have reached the Round of 16 four times but have never gone further. At the last World Cup, Japan won two of four matches before succumbing to Croatia on penalties.

Netherlands lost to Algeria but bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo helped himself to a brace in New York City.

Japan are in great form, winning each of their last six games. At the end of May, Samurai Blue edged past Iceland, with Koki Ogawa netting a late winner in the Japan National Stadium.

Sunday’s showdown in Texas will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations since they clashed in the World Cup group stage in South Africa in 2010. It was a tight game in Durban, with Wesley Sneijder netting the only goal to give the Dutch a 1-0 victory.

They most recently went head-to-head in a friendly in 2013, with the game ending in a thrilling four-goal draw. Japan came from two goals down to tie the game 2-2.

This is likely to be another close encounter between two evenly matched nations, and we are having a tough time splitting the pair. With that in mind, we like the look of 10Bet’s World Cup odds of 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score.

Our Prediction: Draw & BTTS – 7/2

Netherlands vs Japan Predictions

Japan have not conceded many goals of late, keeping clean sheets in each of their last five games. Before that, they beat Brazil in a five-goal thriller in Tokyo. In March, the Japanese famously saw off England at Wembley Stadium, with Kaoru Mitoma scoring the only goal.

Japan could be a tough nut to crack in the 2026 World Cup, but Netherlands certainly have the players to cause them problems in Arlington. Gakpo, who has netted 21 times for his country, will be hungry to get off to a flying start.

The Liverpool ace scored twice in New York last week, and Gakpo is among the favourites to find the net in Netherlands’ opening World Cup fixture. There is good value in 11/5 for Gakpo to score anytime against the Japanese.

Our Prediction: Cody Gakpo to Score Anytime – 11/5

Odds taken from 10Bet at 10:45 UK time, on June 14