Netherlands vs Japan: All-time head-to-head record ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 clash

Hajime Moriyasu’s Samurai Blue eye first win against Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands in Texas.

The Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, Texas, USA, gears up to host the opening match week fixture in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2026, featuring three-time World Cup finalists the Netherlands and Asian heavyweights Japan.

The Netherlands are one of the dark horse favourites to win the World Cup 2026. They are led by the legendary Ronald Koeman, who has immense experience coaching big teams. After winning the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona and Valencia, he would be keen to propel the Netherlands to another World Cup Finals.

Since 1998, the Dutch team has never lost a single group stage game and went on to reach the finals in the 2010 World Cup before winning the bronze medal in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

A series of injuries saw top players like De Ligt, Timber and Simmons being ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026. For Japan, Captain Wataru Endo and Mitoma have also been ruled out owing to injury concerns.

The Asian heavyweights have all it takes to pull one of the biggest upsets in the opening match weeks of the FIFA World Cup 2026. After all, they went on to defeat former World Champions Spain and Germany in the group stages of the last World Cup to top the Group of Death.

They are led by veteran Hajime Moriyasu, who has been at the helm of Japanese football for nearly a decade and knows how to suffocate elite attacking lineups and win against big teams.

In this article, we take a ride down memory lane to find out who has the upper hand against whom. As the two teams prepare to rewrite history, we find out what happened when these two sides last met each other and who scored and impressed more in this fixture.

Netherlands vs Japan: Head-to-Head

So these two sides first met back in 2009 in a friendly game in De Grolsch Veste. The game was heading for a goalless draw, but three late goals from the hosts saw the Netherlands win the game 3-0. Goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw the Dutch winning it back.

A few months later, destiny brought them together in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2010 fixture. In the early minutes of the second half, Wesley Sneijder striked again and Netherlands won 1-0. The Dutch won every single game of the group stages against Denmark and Cameroon to top their group.

They also went on to eventually make it to the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Finals where Spain defeated them in extra time.

Their most recent encounter took place in Cristal Arena, where Japan had revenge in their minds. But the Dutch scored two early goals, but goals from Osako and Honda saw Japan equalise the score 2-2. It was a jaw-dropping, entertaining game where Japan finally avoided a defeat to the Dutch.

Also Read: Preview: Netherlands vs Japan prediction, odds, where to watch, time | FIFA World Cup 2026

Netherlands vs Japan: International friendlies

• Matches: 2
• Netherlands: 1
• Japan: 0
• Draws: 1

Netherlands vs Japan: FIFA World Cup

• Matches: 1
• Netherlands: 1
• Japan: 0
• Draws: 0

Netherlands vs Japan: Overall record

• Matches: 3
• Netherlands: 2
• Japan: 0
• Draws: 1

Netherlands vs Japan: Last 3 matches

05/09/2009: Netherlands 3-0 Japan (International friendly)

19/06/2010: Netherlands 1-0 Japan(FIFA World Cup 2026)

16/11/2013: Netherlands 2-2 Japan (International friendly)

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