The Samurai Blue are dreaming big, with their coach outlining the goal to be crowned world champions. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Netherlands will be looking to finally break their duck at the World Cup as they prepare to face a Japan side who have been cursed with injury of several key players

The Japan Football Association said Thursday that captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the country’s World Cup squad due to a foot injury. The 33-year-old Endo posted his decision on his X account in Japanese three days before his team's Group F opener against the Netherlands.

As part of our Language of Soccer World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition to capture their unique football culture, distilled into a single phrase. You can read the articles in one place here.

The levelled the score up twice, so if it works then it works

AT&T Stadium hosted its first group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Sunday in front of 69,285 boisterous fans. In what FIFA calls Dallas Stadium, the Netherlands and Japan ended the contest with a 2-2 draw.

The Netherlands take on Japan in Group F’s curtain-raiser on Sunday, in one of the most eye-catching fixtures of the 2026 World Cup so far. The Dallas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will supply the backdrop for a game between arguably the greatest ...

Japan's soccer team wears blue despite the flag being red and white. Here is the history behind the Samurai Blue.

“Can I just apologize to every Japanese player down there?” the broadcaster said.