Netherlands vs Japan – FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F, Matchday 1
Sunday 14 June 2026 · AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
The Stadium
AT&T Stadium is one of the most recognisable sports venues in the United States, and for anyone arriving on 14 June expecting a modest warm-up fixture, the building itself will quickly reset expectations. This is a place built for spectacle.
Opened in 2009 as the new home of the Dallas Cowboys, the stadium sits in Arlington — midway between Dallas and Fort Worth — and was designed by architect HKS Inc. The retractable roof, the vast glass end walls that flood the concourse with Texas light, and the centrepiece video board, which at the time of opening was the largest of its kind in the world, all combine to make matchday feel genuinely theatrical. The roof can be opened or closed depending on conditions, a practical consideration given Arlington’s June heat.
For the 2026 World Cup, AT&T Stadium is one of the designated host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It has hosted major events before — Super Bowls, college football championships, and international boxing — Dallas’s 1994 FIFA World Cup matches were staged at the Cotton Bowl, a separate stadium across the metro area — AT&T Stadium itself only opened in 2009. It drew a record basketball crowd for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game and has a track record of handling enormous, logistically complex crowds.
For Group F, this is Matchday 1: Netherlands against Japan. No prior results feed into this fixture. Both sides arrive with their World Cup campaigns entirely open, which makes the atmosphere in a building this size something worth experiencing in person.
Getting There
AT&T Stadium does not sit on a rail line that runs directly from downtown Dallas, so planning transport in advance is essential.
From Dallas city centre: The most straightforward public option is the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), which runs between Dallas Union Station and Fort Worth Central. Alight at CentrePort/DFW Airport station and connect with shuttle services that operate on event days. Journey time from Union Station to CentrePort is roughly 30 minutes, and shuttle transfers add further time. Allow at least 90 minutes door-to-door from central Dallas on a match day.
From Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): The airport sits on the TRE line at CentrePort station, which is among the closer stops to Arlington. Event-day shuttles run from CentrePort to the stadium. From terminal to stadium, budget around 45 minutes including the shuttle leg.
From Dallas Love Field (DAL): Love Field is a Southwest Airlines hub and is not on the TRE. From there, the practical route involves a ride-share to either Union Station or directly to Arlington. A direct ride-share to the stadium from Love Field takes approximately 30–40 minutes in normal traffic — which on a World Cup matchday will not be normal traffic.
Driving and parking: The stadium sits off I-30 and has significant surface and structured parking, but lots fill quickly for major events. Arriving two or more hours before kick-off is advisable. Designated paid lots are managed by the Cowboys organisation; pre-purchasing a parking pass through official channels is strongly recommended.
Travelling From Home Country of Each Team
For Netherlands fans: The most common routing from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is a direct or one-stop service to Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW). Several carriers operate this route; flight time from Amsterdam to Dallas is approximately ten to eleven hours non-stop. From DFW, the CentrePort TRE connection or a ride-share gets fans to Arlington. Dutch supporters should also check services via Houston (IAH or HOU), which is a secondary Texas gateway, though that adds a two-to-three-hour drive. A 14 June match means travelling out by 11 or 12 June to allow for jet lag and exploration.
For Japan fans: Routing from Tokyo (Narita/NRT or Haneda/HND) to Dallas/Fort Worth typically involves one connection, often on the US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) or via a Gulf hub. Total journey time including connection is generally in the range of fifteen to eighteen hours depending on the connection point. Japan fans arriving via LAX or SFO will find onward flights to DFW frequent. Given the journey length, arriving by 12 June is sensible. Supporters based in Osaka can route via Kansai International (KIX) on similar westbound itineraries.
Tickets
Official tickets for FIFA World Cup 2026 are sold exclusively through FIFA’s own ticketing platform at tickets.fifa.com. Allocations are split between national football associations, commercial partners, hospitality packages, and general public sales. General sale windows have historically been conducted in phases across the qualification and draw periods — if you have not already registered interest on the FIFA platform, do so immediately and monitor official announcements.
For a Group F opener involving two established football nations in one of the tournament’s flagship venues, availability in the general public allocation is likely to be limited by the time this guide is read. The secondary market — platforms such as StubHub, Viagogo, and Seat Geek — will carry tickets, but expect significant premiums above face value, particularly as the match date approaches. Be cautious of unofficial sellers near the venue on matchday; FIFA and local law enforcement typically pursue counterfeit ticket operations at major events.
Hospitality packages, which bundle a seat with catering and lounge access, remain available longer than standard tickets but carry substantially higher price points. These are sold through FIFA’s official hospitality partner.
Fan Zones and City Guide
FIFA typically establishes official Fan Festival sites in host cities, offering free entry, live screenings, entertainment, and merchandise. For the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, the precise location and operating details of the Fan Festival for 2026 had not been finalised at the time of writing — check fifa.com and the local host committee for confirmed sites as the tournament approaches.
For Dutch fans: The areas around Deep Ellum in Dallas and Sundance Square in Fort Worth have a strong bar culture and are used to accommodating large travelling sports crowds. Seek out venues with confirmed screening arrangements; the sheer volume of World Cup matches means most sports bars in the area will be operating extended hours throughout the tournament.
For Japanese fans: Dallas has a notable Japanese community, and the Greenville Avenue corridor in Dallas has dining options that should feel familiar. Some supporters organise watch parties through local Japanese cultural associations, which can be a good way to find fellow travellers.
Three things to do if arriving a day early:
1. Visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas — one of the most significant historical sites in the United States, housed in the former Texas School Book Depository.
2. Walk the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where the twice-daily longhorn cattle drive is an unexpectedly compelling piece of living history.
3. Take the Architecture Tour boat ride on the Trinity River or simply walk Klyde Warren Park in Uptown Dallas, which sits above a freeway and hosts regular outdoor events.
Watch the Match Remotely
If you cannot make it to Arlington, Netherlands vs Japan will be broadcast across multiple platforms depending on your territory. For a full breakdown of where to watch the match in your country, plus a detailed tactical preview of both sides, visit the Full preview and where to watch guide at Kickoff Report.
FAQ
- Where is Netherlands vs Japan being played?
- The match is being played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. Arlington sits between Dallas and Fort Worth, roughly equidistant from both city centres.
- How many fans does AT&T Stadium hold?
- AT&T Stadium has a seating capacity in the region of 80,000 for NFL games, with standing room configurations that have pushed event totals higher for concerts and other events. FIFA will confirm the official match-day capacity allocation for World Cup fixtures.
- How do I get to AT&T Stadium from Dallas city centre?
- Take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from Dallas Union Station to CentrePort/DFW Airport station, then connect with an event-day shuttle to the stadium. The train leg takes around 30 minutes; allow at least 90 minutes total from central Dallas on matchday. Ride-shares and driving are alternatives, but traffic near the venue is heavy around kick-off.
- Can I still buy tickets for Netherlands vs Japan?
- Official tickets are sold through FIFA's platform at tickets.fifa.com. General sale availability may be limited at this stage; check the site for any remaining allocations. The secondary market carries tickets but typically at a premium above face value. Avoid unofficial sellers, as counterfeit tickets are a known issue at major FIFA events.
- What is there to do in Dallas for football fans?
- Deep Ellum and Greenville Avenue are the liveliest bar districts for watching matches and mixing with travelling supporters. The Fort Worth Stockyards are worth a half-day visit for something completely different, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is one of the most significant historical sites in the country. Check local listings for any official FIFA Fan Festival activity in the metro area.