Matchday 4 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings two of the biggest matches of the group stage on the same day. Group F leadership will be up for grabs with Netherlands vs Japan. Group E sees Ivory Coast and Ecuador clash, with both nations considered tournament dark horses. Here are your predictions for every match on Sunday, June 14th.
Germany vs Curacao (Sunday June 14th at NRG Stadium in Houston)
Perhaps the most lopsided matchup on paper of the 2026 World Cup group stage. Curacao are the smallest nation to reach the World Cup, the surprise CONCACAF qualifiers have a squad made up of players who came through the Dutch football system, and united to deliver the island nation a historic result in CONCACAF qualifying. A new look Germany still has 40-year-old Manuel Neuer in goal, but having players like 23-year-olds Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz in attack are an example of this being a new regime.
Curacao may impress this tournament compared to expectations, but impressing isn’t the same as winning, and Germany should control possession and eventually find at least a couple of goals. This is a Germany side that has won nine consecutive matches and frequently scores 4+ goals in games. Curacao conceded 4 against Scotland in a warm-up game. Prediction: Germany 5-0
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (Sunday, June 14th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia)
There’s a style clash here in front of what should be a pro Ecuadorian crowd in Philadelphia. Ivory Coast have attacking talent and flair, they were perfect in the friendlies before the tournament, shocking France 2-1, and previously beating Scotland and South Korea. RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Manchester United’s Amad Diallo are among the names they can call on.
Ecuador have put together an insane record, they haven’t lost a game since 2024, though they frequently manage only draws, rather than wins. This is an Ecuadorian side with a world class backline with Piero Hincapie (Arsenal) paired with Willian Pacho (PSG). They concede few chances and form a literal brick wall. Going forward, Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) bears a heavy burden in the midfield, and Pachucha’s Enner Valencia, despite his advanced age, is still their most recognized goal scorer. The most likely result in an Ecuador match is a draw, another draw would be fitting to open the tournament in a tough group.
Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Netherlands vs Japan (Sunday, June 14th at AT&T Stadium in Dallas)
The Netherlands enters their clash with Japan in terrible form, they split results against Uzbekistan and were poor on attack against Algeria, falling 1-0. They were respectable enough in a weak qualifying group and Ronald Koeman still has players like Virgil Van Dijik and Frenkie de Jong to call on, but there’s a gap in the midfield qualify, and a lack of a quality striker, with Corinthians Memphis Depay out of form. The contrast with Japan form wise is stark, the Japanese beat Brazil, Ghana, Scotland, and England to warm up, and haven’t lost in six matches. Missing captain Wataru Endo for, Netherlands vs Japan, and the rest of the tournament, is a blow, but Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda has a dark horse claim to the golden boot. This Japanese team has a strong European based squad with veterans like Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) and Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Being the first team to qualify for the tournament, sometimes Japan have been overlooked in the build up, but the Netherlands are in for a very difficult time on Sunday.. Prediction: Japan 2-1
Sweden vs Tunisia (Sunday, June 14th at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey)
Graham Potter steered Sweden into the World Cup via the UEFA playoff, but they lost to Norway and drew Greece in the warm-ups and there’s concern that this talented side is regressing again after an awful qualifying campaign. The quality on the pitch is undeniable, there’s Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak as a Premier League striker pairing, there’s the veteran Victor Lindelof in the back, but this side has never actually played as well as it should on paper.
With the Netherlands vs Japan setting the stage for this group, either team securing 3 points would be massive in terms of reaching the knockout stage.
Tunisia, winless in their last three matches, are also in poor form heading in, conceding 5 against Belgium in the last warm up. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri is the most famous name here. This is not a squad full of star power, but they know what they are, and will be looking to grind results to get to 4 points and find a way into the knockouts. Sweden’s quality should win the day, but hot weather conditions could burden them more than expected. Prediction: Sweden 2-0
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
