World Cup Day 4 Preview: Germany Begins Campaign vs Curaçao, Netherlands Face Japan in Group F Opener

Day 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings four more group-stage matches as the tournament continues across the United States and Mexico. The marquee fixture of the day sees four-time champions Germany begin their campaign against CONCACAF debutants Curaçao in Houston, while Netherlands vs Japan headlines Group F action from Dallas.

After three days that have already produced a Mexican opening-night victory, a US statement win over Paraguay, Brazil being held 1-1 by Morocco, and Scotland's first World Cup win in 36 years, Sunday's slate promises more drama as Groups E and F get underway.

Today's full schedule (June 14, 2026)

Germany vs Curaçao — Can the debutants surprise?

Julian Nagelsmann's Germany enter the tournament as one of the favourites, bringing a squad stacked with Champions League and Bundesliga talent. Captain Joshua Kimmich anchors the midfield alongside Leon Goretzka and rising star Aleksandar Pavlovic, while the attacking trio of Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, and Florian Wirtz — supported by striker Kai Havertz — gives Germany one of the most dynamic front lines in the tournament.

Curaçao, ranked 82nd in the world by FIFA, are making their World Cup debut under veteran Dutch manager Dick Advocaat. The island nation of just 150,000 people qualified through the CONCACAF pathway, and while they are heavy underdogs, they bring physicality and pace through players like Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) and striker Jürgen Locadia.

Germany's probable XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer — Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum — Goretzka, Pavlovic — Sané, Musiala, Wirtz — Havertz.

Netherlands vs Japan — The Group F headliner

This is arguably the most competitive match of the day. The Netherlands, runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010, enter with a balanced squad blending experience and youth. Japan, under Hajime Moriyasu, have reached the round of 16 in the last two World Cups and are looking to take the next step.

The Dutch will rely on their traditionally strong defensive structure, while Japan's technical midfield — featuring players from top European leagues — will test the Oranje's ability to control possession. The winner of this match takes a major step toward topping Group F, which also includes Sweden and Tunisia.

The match kicks off at 10:00 PM local time (1:30 AM Monday IST) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys and one of the tournament's showcase venues.

India watching guide

Indian viewers can catch all four matches on the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast. The Germany vs Curaçao match at 10:30 PM IST is the most accessible for Indian audiences. Netherlands vs Japan at 1:30 AM is a late-night fixture but worth staying up for given the quality of the contest.

For Indian football fans, Group F also offers a point of interest: Japan's technical, possession-based style has often been compared to the kind of football Indian coaches aspire to develop domestically. Watching how Japan handles the physical and tactical challenge of the Netherlands provides a useful benchmark.

What to expect from the other matches

Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (4:30 AM IST): Group E's other opener features two teams with very different profiles. Ivory Coast, winners of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, bring physicality and pace. Ecuador, playing at altitude-adjusted comfort, are a technically sound side that qualified comfortably from South America.

Sweden vs Tunisia (7:30 AM IST): Sweden, without Zlatan Ibrahimović but with a well-drilled collective unit, open against a Tunisia side that famously beat France in the 2022 group stage. This early-morning fixture could produce an upset.

Sources: FIFA official match schedule, UEFA.com, Yahoo Sports, FotMob, Sporting News, SBS News.

See also: World Cup Day 3: Brazil Held 1-1 by Morocco, Qatar 95th-Minu · USA 4-1 Paraguay: Balogun Brace and Reyna Header Open World

Sources

• ESPN — espn.com
• FIFA — fifa.com
• Voxlogue editorial research