Group F fixtures
Sun 14 Jun21:00 BST
AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Arlington)
Sat 20 Jun05:00 BST
Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Fri 26 Jun00:00 BST
AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Arlington)
Key players to watch
Takefusa Kubo
AM · Real Sociedad
The creative hub and Japan's biggest attacking hope; dribbling, explosiveness and dead-ball quality in the final third.
Creative star
Wataru Endo
MF · Liverpool · C
Captain and defensive-midfield anchor; recovered from an April ankle injury, his leadership and screening are central.
Captain · anchor
Daichi Kamada
MF · Crystal Palace
Press-resistant midfielder who links play and arrives in the box; Premier League-tested quality.
Box-to-box link
Ritsu Doan
W · Eintracht Frankfurt
Direct, goal-getting wide forward — scored against Germany and Spain in 2022 — and a set-piece option.
Wide threat
Ayase Ueda
FW · Feyenoord
Mobile centre-forward who leads the line and presses relentlessly in Moriyasu's coordinated waves.
Lead striker
Daizen Maeda
FW · Celtic
High-energy forward with pace to burn; thrives in transition off the front line.
Pressing forward
Goals & output
Threat comes from Kubo's creativity feeding Ueda and Maeda, with Doan and Kamada arriving from midfield. Japan create more than they convert — the loss of their most creative attacker, Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), narrows the options.
Set-piece duties
Kubo is the main dead-ball threat (penalties and free kicks), with Doan another free-kick option and the pair sharing corners with Kamada. Set pieces matter for a side that creates plenty but can lack a clinical edge.
Discipline read
▲Disciplined and one of the best-drilled pressing sides at the tournament; rarely reckless, with a below-average card profile.
Recent form
The first non-host nation to qualify, sealing their place in March 2025 and topping their AFC group with 30 goals. Since 2022 — when they beat Germany and Spain before losing to Croatia on penalties in the last 16 — they have also beaten Brazil and England. Genuine giant-killers, ranked around 18th, at an eighth straight World Cup.
Head-to-head history
v Netherlands (14 Jun)
Lost 1-0 at 2010 WC
The Dutch won the only World Cup meeting, in 2010. A defining tactical opener in Dallas — a point would be a strong start.
v Tunisia (20 Jun)
Lost 3-0 in 2022
Tunisia beat Japan 3-0 in a 2022 friendly (the Kirin Cup final) — a reminder not to underestimate the Carthage Eagles, in Monterrey.
v Sweden (26 Jun)
Negligible history
Little prior record; potentially a decisive final-day fixture in Dallas for the qualification places.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Live for a top-two finish and, given the expanded format, a real shot at their first knockout run in this bracket. Well-coached and fearless against big names; finishing is the one doubt. Value in Japan to qualify and to spring a result against the Dutch.