France vs Japan
France vs Japan preview
France vs Japan pits France (FIFA #2) against Japan (#15) in Group F on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at NRG Stadium. France go in as the favoured side on FIFA Ranking alone, but Japan have round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) as their World Cup high-water mark.
NRG Stadium (capacity 72,220) is the retractable-roof home of the Houston Texans (NFL). It sits 24m above sea level in Houston. June/July temperatures in Houston average a high of 34°C and a low of 24°C, with notable rainfall — relevant context for player workload and broadcast scheduling.
Form context — France have appeared at 17 previous FIFA World Cups (last five: Runner-up, Champions, R16, QF, Group). Japan have appeared at 8 World Cups (last five: R16, R16, R16, Group, R16). The match is officially scheduled by FIFA; kickoff times and venue assignments are confirmed.
France vs Japan — head-to-head profile
Pre-match snapshot of both squads. All values are populated at build time from the World Cup squads dataset and refreshed via the API on match day.
| Metric | France | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Ranking | #2 | #15 |
| Confederation | UEFA | AFC |
| WC appearances | 17 | 8 |
| Best WC finish | Champions (1998, 2018) | Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) |
| Last 5 WCs | Runner-up, Champions, R16, QF, Group | R16, R16, R16, Group, R16 |
| Captain | Kylian Mbappé | Wataru Endo |
| Manager | Didier Deschamps | Hajime Moriyasu |
| Players to watch | Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Aurélien Tchouaméni | Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma |
Get live France vs Japan data
// Fetch live data for France vs Japan
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&date=2026-06-13',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();
// data: [{ id, kickoff_utc, status, score, lineups, events, xg, ... }]Other matches on Jun 13
Other matches at NRG Stadium
Frequently Asked Questions
When is France vs Japan at the 2026 World Cup?
France vs Japan is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, kicking off at Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:00:00 UTC at NRG Stadium, Houston.
What stage is France vs Japan?
France vs Japan is a Group Stage fixture in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What stadium hosts France vs Japan?
NRG Stadium (capacity 72,220, opened 2002, retractable roof, natural grass (laid over turf)) in Houston hosts France vs Japan.
Who is favoured to win France vs Japan?
France go in as the higher-ranked side at FIFA #2, with Japan ranked #15. France's best World Cup finish is Champions (1998, 2018); Japan's is Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022). Live odds for France vs Japan are available via the odds endpoint covering Bet365, Pinnacle, Betfair Exchange, and Kambi.
Where can I watch France vs Japan?
Check your local FIFA broadcast partner for live coverage. Live scores, lineups, in-match events, xG, and odds are also available in real time via TheStatsAPI matches endpoint.
What is the kickoff time for France vs Japan in my timezone?
France vs Japan kicks off at Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:00:00 UTC. Convert it to your local timezone using the kickoff converter on this page — it works without an account.
How can I get live France vs Japan stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by date (2026-06-13) or by match ID to get live scores, lineups, in-match events (goals, cards, substitutions), xG, and per-player stats. Updates land within seconds of the source feed.
Track France vs Japan live via API
Real-time scores, lineups, events, xG, and odds. 7-day free trial.