Memphis Depay and Bart Verbruggen have both been passed fit for the Netherlands’ World Cup opener against Japan in Dallas today.
Memphis - his country’s all-time top goalscorer and 10th most-capped player - did not feature in last week’s final warm-up friendly against Uzbekistan in New York, having been nursing a thigh injury picked up on club duty in Brazil with Corinthians.
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Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen emerged as a serious doubt for Sunday’s Group F clash after landing awkwardly in that 2-1 win over Uzbekistan, but he starts here.
Verbruggen was confirmed to have suffered a bruised hip after being replaced by Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken.
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman confirmed on Saturday that Memphis - who only got 45 minutes off the bench in a previous warm-up friendly against Algeria - and Verbruggen were both in contention.
Denzel Dumfries, on his way to Real Madrid this summer, gets the nod at right-back with Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven on the opposite flank and potential future club team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke partnering captain Virgil van Dijk in the middle.
Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong form the midfield double pivot, while Cody Gakpo scored both goals in the win over Uzbekistan, so is a lock for the left-hand side. Tijjani Reijnders struggled for minutes at Manchester City this season, but is the favoured option for Koeman in the attacking midfield role.
West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville started both pre-tournament warm-up games on the right, and he is in again from the start here.
Donyell Malen, who ended the season scoring seven goals in as many appearances for Roma, gets the nod ahead of Memphis.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Malen
Time and date: 9pm BST on Sunday June 14, 2026
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington
How to watch: ITV
