Moriyasu: 'Show What We've Accomplished Over the Past 3.5 Years'

Japan national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu has stressed that his players must show the fruits of their labor over the past three and a half years in their 2026 World Cup opener against the Netherlands on Sunday (June 14).

Speaking ahead of the match, he said: 'We have worked tirelessly over a long period. Now is the time to prove that on the pitch.' This marks Japan's third consecutive World Cup appearance under Moriyasu.

The Dutch side, a traditional powerhouse that reached the 2010 World Cup final, presents a formidable challenge. Nonetheless, Moriyasu expressed confidence: 'We fear no one. The entire squad is thoroughly prepared, both tactically and mentally.'

The match kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time at the National Stadium in Doha, Qatar. It is the first test in a group widely considered to be competitive.