Did you know that in the last three years, Japan has beaten Germany, Spain, Brazil and England? Yeah, pretty damn impressive.
The Samurai Blue have quietly become one of the most dangerous teams in the world, with a relentless, tactically sharp side loaded with European-based talent that absolutely does not care about your bracket projections.
They’ve made the knockout round four straight tournaments, and every single time they’ve hit a wall at the Round of 16. In 2026, with one of their best squads ever, they’re coming to North American not to be a feel-good story, but to finally break through it.
They have two group stage matches in Dallas, so let’s dive into them.
Starting this summer, Dallas Stadium becomes one of the most watched venues on Earth, hosting some of the biggest nations in world football. But who are these teams? What’s their story? And which ones are actually worth showing up for?
That’s what this series is for.
Over the coming weeks, Big D Soccer is breaking down every national team coming to North Texas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their history, their best players, and our honest take on how far they’ll go. Consider it your cheat sheet for sounding smart at the watch party.
Why you need to watch
Japan has always been a team that doesn’t care what the oddsmakers say about them. These guys walk into every tournament and beat someone they have absolutely no business beating. Their recent track record since Qatar, is no fluke either. That’s a legitimate top-15 team masquerading as an underdog.
Japan are not a surprise package anymore. They have an elite, mostly European-based team. Their first match with Holland will show folks a thing or two.
How they got here
Japan became the first team outside of the three North American hosts to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after their win against Bahrain in the AFC qualifiers. They didn’t just qualify, they dominated. Japan conceded just three goals across 16 qualifying matches, scoring 54 in the process. That defensive record is among the best of any team heading into the tournament.
World Cup History
Japan has one of the best growth arcs in international soccer. They made their first World Cup appearance back at the 1998 World Cup in France, and have qualified every edition since then.
Japan’s World Cup story is one of the best growth arcs in international soccer. Japan made their first World Cup appearance in France in 1998 and has since qualified for every edition of the tournament. They lost all three group games that first year. Rough. But they learned fast. Japan has advanced to the knockout stage four times, reaching the round of 16 in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. The 2022 tournament in Qatar was their boldest statement yet — they topped their group with famous wins over Spain and Germany, before taking Croatia to penalties in the Round of 16. The round of 16 ceiling is the one thing they haven’t cracked — and that’s exactly the chip on their shoulder heading into 2026.
Players to Watch
🔵 Wataru Endo — Center Midfielder, Liverpool - Endo will likely be the Japanese captain for the tournament. He's the engine, the tackle machine. He's the guy who makes everyone around him better. If he is on his game, Japan will do very well.
🔵 Takefusa Kubo — Winger, Real Sociedad - The 24-year old has been dubbed the Japanese Messi. He had a fantastic season in Spain this year, where he was one of the most lethal wingers. He's fast, technical, and completely disrespectful to fullbacks.
🔵 Daichi Kamada — Midfielder, Crystal Palace - He may be one of the more underrated two-way players in the game. Kamada brings a high tackle rate, but also an ability on the ball that connects well with his teammates.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (CT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ June 14 | 🇳🇱 vs. Netherlands | Dallas Stadium — Arlington, TX | 3:00 PM |
| June 20 | 🇹🇳 vs. Tunisia | Monterrey Stadium — Monterrey, MX | 11:00 PM |
| ⭐ June 25 | 🇸🇪 vs. Sweden | Dallas Stadium — Arlington, TX | 6:00 PM |
Projected finish
As we've stated already, Japan has a history of doing well in the group stage and fizzling out in the early portion of the Knockout Round. Don't be shocked if that happens again here this year. Japan's group is winnable if they get off to a hot start against the Netherlands. A quarterfinal run isn't crazy talk, but history isn't quite on their side for that in my mind.
BDS Projected Finish: Round of 16
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