Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke aims to follow in the footsteps of his uncle Jan Poortvliet by reaching the World Cup final. Poortvliet played in defense for the Netherlands during the 1978 final, where the team was narrowly defeated by hosts Argentina in extra time. Van Hecke is anticipated to start in central defense alongside captain Virgil van Dijk as the Dutch open their Group F campaign against Japan on Sunday in Dallas.

Van Hecke expressed pride at representing his country on the world stage, noting that the opportunity was especially significant after Jurrien Timber was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. “It’s my dream, but it was also his dream,” Van Hecke said, referring to Timber. “It’s a real shame that his dream has fallen apart.”

Interestingly, Van Hecke’s uncle Poortvliet also gained his initial World Cup experience under similar circumstances. He had been a relative outsider, debuting for the national team just two weeks before the 1978 tournament. Poortvliet was called upon after an injury sidelined first-choice left-back Hugo Hovenkamp, who had been in peak form. Poortvliet went on to play six matches in Argentina, demonstrating versatility by covering left-back, right-back, and defensive midfield roles.

Meanwhile, England confronted off-field difficulties as their training equipment was stolen ahead of their arrival in Kansas City. Local police reported that a vehicle transporting equipment from England’s pre-tournament base in Florida to the Swope Soccer Village was broken into, with balls and boots among the items taken. Authorities confirmed two individuals had been detained as part of the ongoing investigation.

In other World Cup news, Spain arrived in Atlanta with high expectations ahead of their Group H opener against Cape Verde on Monday. The European champions, coached by Luis de la Fuente, have been nearly unbeatable over the last four years, remaining unbeaten in 30 matches since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia in March 2024. Their recent form includes 23 wins and seven draws, with playing a dynamic and attacking style of football.

Spain’s only recent blemish was a penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final, following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Despite leading twice in the match, Spain failed to retain their 2023 title.

Cape Verde, making their first World Cup appearance, are the smallest nation to ever qualify for the finals, with a population under 600,000. While considered underdogs, the Blue Sharks have earned attention for their unexpected qualification and will face one of the tournament favorites in Spain. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia complete Group H alongside these teams.