Day 4 of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup provides another full day of action with Netherlands-Japan at 1 PM probably being the highlight. Curaçao will also be the first of four first-time World Cup qualifiers to make their debut.
Dave Clark
Today's games
Germany vs. Curaçao
Time: 10 AM (Pacific)
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV: Fox, Telemundo
Online: Fox One, Peacock
Netherlands vs. Japan
Time: 1 PM (Pacific)
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: Fox, Telemundo
Online: Fox One, Peacock
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador
Time: 4 PM (Pacific)
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV: FS1, Telemundo
Online: Fox One, Peacock
Sweden vs. Tunisia
Time: 7 PM (Pacific)
Where: Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico
TV: FS1, Telemundo
Online: Fox One, Peacock
The new issue of IV: The Sounder at Heart magazine is now available for pre-order. Issue 2 will focus on Seattle’s role in the 2026 World Cup.
What’s interesting today?
- Curaçao is one of four teams who will be making their World Cup debuts this year. The Caribbean island nation has about 150,000 permanent residents, making it easily the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup. (Iceland previously held that record with a population about twice as big.) Notably, Tahith Chong is the only player on their roster was actually born in Curaçao while most of the roster was born and raised in the Netherlands. Like Chong, who plays for Sheffield United, most of the roster plays professionally in Europe.
- Netherlands is the top-ranked club to take the field today, coming in at No. 8. After a semifinal appearance in the last UEFA Championships and a quarterfinal run in the last World Cup, they should probably be considered among the dark horse contenders.
- They face Japan, the No. 18-ranked team. They are riding a six-game winning streak and have lost just once since the start of 2025 (a 2–0 loss to the United States).
- Although Sweden have missed four of the previous eight World Cups, they have advanced at least as far as the Round of 16 in each of those appearances, including a quarterfinal run in 2018.
