Three Liverpool players could be in action this evening as the Netherlands take on Japan. The Dutch have the most players from the Reds at this tournament.
Virgil Van Dijk is expected to be at the back, with Cody Gakpo in the attacking areas. Ryan Gravenberch may also be included. Tonight’s meeting takes place in Arlington
One player from the Anfield outfit failed to get called up by Ronald Koeman, with Jeremie Frimpong missing out. The Netherlands reached the quarterfinals in 2022, where they met Argentina in a fiery contest. Liverpool player, Wataru Endo, was also involved in the Japan squad; however, he failed to get back up to fitness, and he was pulled out of the squad. A significant blow for the Asian side.
This may be Van Dijk’s final World Cup, with him being 39 in 2030. The Netherlands captain spoke about what their aspirations are after a challenging campaign on Merseyside. Reported by Sky Sports, he said, “I’m proud to be the captain of Oranje and to lead you every time. I’m already excited for the final tournament and to achieve success together. I’m proud of all of you – you’re an amazing group, and we have so much quality. Here’s to chasing success together.”
It’s been a difficult season for all three Liverpool players, though especially Gakpo. The winger had a tough time for the Reds, perhaps showing a lack of confidence. However, on the international stage, he has become a reliable figure.
| Date | Match | Competition | Who played | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 June, 2026 | Netherlands vs Uzbekistan | International friendly | Van Dijk, Gakpo, Gravenberch | W 2-1 |
| 3 June, 2026 | Netherlands vs Algeria | International friendly | Van Dijk, Gakpo, Gravenberch | L 1-0 |
| 31 March, 2026 | Netherlands vs Ecuador | International friendly | Van Dijk, Gakpo | D 1-1 |
How to watch
- Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
- Kickoff time: 3pm local time (CDT), 9pm BST
- Location: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium),Arlington, Texas
- TV/Streaming: Zee5, Fox (US), ITV (UK)
Recent form guide
Netherlands: Prior to their recent run of matches, they had been near perfect heading into the World Cup. However, a draw to Ecuador in March is viewed as far from ideal, despite the South Americans’ tough defence. While a defeat to Algeria in their warm-up friendlies is not what they needed, as they hope to give this tournament a real run.
Japan: There last defeat stretched back to September in a 1-0 defeat to host nation, USA. Since then, they have been majorly impressive on their road to the World Cup. They beat five time winners, Brazil 3-2 in October, and England 1-0 in March. Unlike everyone else, they played just once before the tournament, were they beat Iceland 1-0 on the final day of May.
| Team | Recent form | Key warm up results |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | W L D W W | 2-1 Norway, 2-1 Uzbekistan |
| Japan | W W W W W | 1-0 England, 1-0 Scotland |
Injuries, absenses, suspension
Any injuries have seen players pull out of the squad, with Endo being the only one. Koeman is pleased to see both Memphis Depay and Bart Verbruggen available for the first game. The forward has picked up a thigh injury, whilst the keeper had a bruised hip; however, they will both be in contention this evening. Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma suffered a hamstring injury of the final day of the season, and missed out on the squad.
Netherlands
- None
Japan
- None
Predicted starting lineup
Netherlands have normally selected a classic 4-3-3, with the two warmup fixtures in America including the three Liverpool players from the start. The defence has also been makeshift at times, with players out of their regular position.
Japan have regularly used a back three, and it has been to great effect. Over the wide players have more attacking freedom than being wingbacks. If Endo was used in the squad, he offered great versatility either in the middle or in the defence.
Netherlands predicted XI (4-3-3)
Verbruggen; Geertruida, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van De Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Kluivert, Gakpo, Malen
Japan predicted XI (3-4-2-1)
Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Ito, Itakura; Doan, Tanaka, Seko, Nakamura; Kubo, Ito; Ueda
ReadLiverpool verdict
Alongside Brazil vs Morocco, this fixture is one of the hardest to decide who will win if someone is to get three points. Japan are missing out on key personnel, though they still have one of the strongest squads they have ever had. A correct tactical approach could punish the Netherlands.
The quality of the Dutch is amazing, though they need their players to be at their best, especially Gakpo. He was their highest scorer at the 2022 World Cup; they will need the same once again. The Liverpool players have a significant job to do if the Dutch are to get three points in Arlington.
