2026 World Cup: Germany, Netherlands Headline Action on Matchday 4
Published June 14, 2026
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup progresses to Matchday 4, promising another day of intense football with Germany facing debutants Curacao, and the Netherlands set to take on Japan in a highly anticipated fixture.
Published — local time around the world
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is set for another thrilling day of competition as Matchday 4 kicks off, featuring a slate of four compelling matches. Football fans will be eager to see how the tournament unfolds, especially after a dramatic Matchday 3 that included surprising results and a moment of VAR controversy.
Among the day's highlights, four-time champions Germany will begin their campaign against Curacao, who are making their first appearance on the global stage. Another marquee fixture sees the Netherlands go head-to-head with Japan in what is expected to be a closely contested battle. The schedule also includes Ivory Coast facing Ecuador and Sweden taking on Tunisia, completing a packed day of group stage action across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The previous day’s play saw several notable outcomes, including Brazil and Morocco sharing points in a 1-1 draw. Qatar also secured their inaugural World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, though this match was overshadowed by a VAR decision. Reportedly, a penalty awarded to Switzerland raised questions after replays suggested a potential offside, and the absence of a visual explanation for fans led to FIFA issuing a clarification regarding a technical glitch. Elsewhere, Scotland marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a 1-0 victory over Haiti, while Australia secured a convincing 2-0 win against Turkiye.