A thrilling opening group stage encounter in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup features a high-profile match between the Netherlands and Japan.
According to reports, the Netherlands vs Japan fixture is taking place at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, on Monday, 15 June 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 03:00 Western Indonesia Time.
Both the Netherlands and Japan have fielded their strongest squads in pursuit of three crucial points in their first group match.
The Oranje, as the Netherlands are fondly known, have named key players such as Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, and Cody Gakpo in their starting line-up.
Tijjani Reijnders, the elder brother of Persib Bandung’s key player Eliano Reijners, has been named in the Netherlands’ starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Japan have also deployed their best players, determined to challenge the Dutch and secure an early advantage in the tournament.
Japan’s starting line-up includes Zion Suzuki, Hiroki Ito, Daichi Kamada, and Takefusa Kubo among others.
Football fans are eagerly waiting to see whether the Netherlands or Japan will claim victory in this encounter, or if it will end in a draw.
Line-ups for Netherlands vs Japan
Netherlands
Starters: Bart Verbruggen, Denzel Dumfries, Jean Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders, Crysencio Summerville, Donyell Malen, and Cody Gakpo.
Substitutes: Mark Flekken, Robin Roefs, Jorel Hato, Lutsharel Geertruida, Mats Wieffer, Nathan Ake, Guus Til, Marten de Roon, Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, Teun Koopmainers, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Wout Weghorst, and Noa Lang.
Japan
Starters: Zion Suzuki, Hiroki Ito, Shogo Taniguchi, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Daizen Maeda, Takefusa Kubo, and Ayase Ueda.
Substitutes: Keisuke Osako, Tomoki Hayakama, Ayumu Seko, Ko Itura, Junnosuke Suzuki, Yukinari Sugawara, Takeshiro Tomiyasu, Yuto Nagatomo, Ao Tanaka, Yuito Suzuki, Junya Ito, Keisuke Goto, Koki Ogawa, Kento Shiogai, and Shuto Machino.
One of the small business owners in Solo, Nofi Setiawan, who runs NS Jersey, shared his journey and predictions for the World Cup group stage.
Before giving his predictions for the champion and runner-up of Group A, Nofi talked about how he started his jersey business.
He began the business while still a high school student. “The background of this business is that I was studying marketing. There were practical exams, so I decided to test this business idea during school. It was also my hobby, and I started selling little by little after graduation until now,” Nofi explained.
“Thank God, it has grown quite well. We sell two types of adult jerseys: the regular (stadium) version and the player issue version. We also have shorts and children’s jerseys. That’s a bit about how I started,” he said in an interview on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.
Nofi’s business truly took off after the Covid-19 pandemic hit Indonesia. “If traced back, it probably started around 2020 just as a hobby, earning a bit of extra money. But after the Covid outbreak, I started taking it seriously and expanded until now,” he added.
Speaking about the 2026 World Cup and the surge in jersey sales, Nofi said the excitement usually peaks after the group stage ends.
“Usually, the demand starts to rise after the group stage,” he noted.
According to Nofi, European teams such as Germany and France have the most popular jerseys among customers. Besides them, Latin American giants Brazil and Argentina are also in high demand.
“The best-selling and most dominant are definitely Germany and France. Portugal follows, mostly because of Ronaldo fans. Then Argentina and Brazil are also very popular. England and the Netherlands are not that hyped,” Nofi explained.
Interestingly, the Netherlands’ jerseys are often shipped to eastern Indonesia. “We often send Dutch jerseys to eastern regions because many people there have Dutch ancestry,” he revealed.
Nofi explained that his customers usually buy jerseys based on three main factors. “In my experience, there are three reasons people buy: design, favourite player or team — like Ronaldo, Mbappé, or Messi — and their budget,” he said.
He added that old jersey designs can suddenly become popular again if a team performs well in the World Cup. “It’s always special when I still have old stock and the team goes far in the tournament. For example, I still had Argentina jerseys in 2022, and when they reached the semifinals, the demand skyrocketed, and prices went up too,” Nofi recalled.
Nofi’s farthest deliveries have been to Papua and Maluku, usually in bulk orders. “I have customers from Papua and Maluku. They usually buy together with friends to save on shipping costs. The largest order I’ve sent was about 12 pieces,” he shared.
(TribunWow.com)
