Japan and the Netherlands kick off their 2026 World Cup campaigns tonight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and this one is genuinely wide open — the line has Netherlands at even money, which tells you the bookmakers aren't sold on either side. The Dutch have the pedigree and the individual talent up front, but Japan pulled off the stunner of the 2022 tournament beating Germany and Spain back-to-back, so nobody in their right mind is sleeping on the Samurai Blue.

Both defenses have had solid camp reports and the over-under sitting at 2.5 suggests bettors expect a tight, cagey affair that could well go nil-nil deep into stoppage time. Bold prediction: Japan nicks a goal on the counter in the second half and holds on for a result that nobody at the pub saw coming.