NZ vs JPN Match Prediction, Preview, Team News & Expert Analysis - 13th Match
By Akshay Thakur - Tue, Aug 18, 2026Last Updated on Aug 18, 2026 12:51 PM
New Zealand vs Japan Hockey Match Previews
FIH Hockey Men World Cup 2026 Belgium and Netherlands 2026
NZ vs JPN Match Previews, Probable Playing 11, Hockey Match Live Score and Pitch Report
NZ vs JPN Match Prediction, FIH Hockey Men World Cup 2026 Belgium and Netherlands 2026, New Zealand vs Japan Match Preview, Probable Playing 11, Match winning Tips, Live Match Score, Pitch Report, Injury & Updates.
NZ vs JPN (New Zealand vs Japan) Match Details
| Match | New Zealand vs Japan (NZ vs JPN) |
| League | FIH Hockey Men World Cup 2026 Belgium and Netherlands 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, 18th August 2026 |
| Time | 01:00 PM (IST) - 07:30 AM (GMT) |
NZ vs JPN Venue: Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands
NZ vs JPN Weather Report: The weather will be clean and there are no chances of rain.
NZ vs JPN (New Zealand vs Japan) Playing 11
New Zealand vs Japan (NZ vs JPN) Match Preview
NZ vs JPN Match Preview: FIH Hockey Men World Cup 2026 Belgium and Netherlands 2026 will see New Zealand facing off against Japan on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 at 01:00 PM IST.
After difficult opening matches, both teams head into this contest in search of their first points. New Zealand suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of hosts the Netherlands, while Japan was beaten 3-0 by Argentina. With the Netherlands and Argentina also in Pool A, this match is crucial for both teams regarding their hopes of advancing.
New Zealand (NZ) Team Updates
After a 5-1 defeat in their opening match against the Netherlands, the New Zealand mens hockey team will be fully prepared to bounce back.
The Black Sticks (the New Zealand team) boast a strong core of experienced players; Kane Russell, Nick Woods, Dane Lett, captain Sam Lane, and Aiden Sarikaya are all heading into the World Cup with over 100 international caps each. This experience will prove crucial as they aim to get their campaign back on track.
New Zealand has also enjoyed recent success against Japan, having defeated them 5-2 during the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Mens Nations Cup.
Japan (JPN) Team Updates
After starting their campaign with a 3-0 loss against Argentina, the Japanese mens hockey team also needs to bounce back.
Japan is participating in the Mens Hockey World Cup for the sixth time, having qualified by finishing third in the 2026 World Cup qualifier held in Ismailia, Egypt. They also secured fourth place in the 2025-26 Nations Cup, demonstrating their ability to compete against strong international teams.
New Zealand vs Japan (NZ vs JPN) Hockey Match Prediction, Team and Tips
NZ vs JPN Match Prediction: New Zealand has very good form in the recent matches, most probably they will win this match.
NZ vs JPN FIH Hockey Men World Cup 2026 Belgium and Netherlands 2026 Match Expert Advice: Kane Russell will be a top multiplier choice for the small leagues. Sam Lane will be a decent choice for the captaincy in the grand leagues.
NZ vs JPN Head to Head
NZ vs JPN Head to Head Records: New Zealand vs Japan have faced each other in 3 matches in . Out of these 3 games, New Zealand have won 3 whereas Japan have won 0 Matches.
| Match Played | 3 |
| NZ Won | 3 |
| JPN Won | 0 |
| Tie/NR | 0 |
Live Telecast
The match will be live telecast on Star Sports.
NZ vs JPN Team Analysis & Player Performance
- In Goal Keeping, both are good. However Dominic Dixon will be the better option.
NZ vs JPN Winning Prediction
- New Zealand looks more strong as compared to Japan, Make a 7-4 combination in favour of New Zealand
NZ vs JPN Small League Must Picks:
NZ - Kane Russell [470 points], Sam Lane [183 points]JPN - Shota Yamada [0 points], Ken Nagayoshi [0 points]
NZ vs JPN Grand League Risky Picks:
NZ - Buschl Malachi [0 points], Simon Yorston [0 points]JPN - Yosei Oba [0 points], Takumi Kitagawa [0 points]
New Zealand (NZ) Key Players
- Dane Lett [PTs: 0, CR: 8.5]
- Blair Tarrant [PTs: 0, CR: 9.0]
- Jake Smith [PTs: 0, CR: 9.5]
- Nic Woods [PTs: 121, CR: 8.0]
- Sam Lane [PTs: 183, CR: 8.0]
- Kane Russell [PTs: 470, CR: 9.5]
Japan (JPN) Key Players
- Seren-Tanaka [PTs: 0, CR: 8.5]
- Raiki Fujishima [PTs: 0, CR: 8.5]
- Manabu Yamashita [PTs: 0, CR: 9.0]
- Yuma Nagai [PTs: 0, CR: 9.0]
- Shota Yamada [PTs: 0, CR: 9.5]
NZ vs JPN Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
- Dane Lett [PTs: 0, CR: 8.5]
- Seren-Tanaka [PTs: 0, CR: 8.5]
- Yuma Nagai [PTs: 0, CR: 9.0]
- Shota Yamada [PTs: 0, CR: 9.5]
- Sam Lane [PTs: 183, CR: 8.0]
- Kane Russell [PTs: 470, CR: 9.5]
NZ vs JPN Injury / Unavailability
New Zealand Hockey Team Injuries:
- There are no injury updates as of now.
Japan Hockey Team Injuries:
- There are no injury updates as of now.
NZ vs JPN Live Stream
NZ vs JPN match will be live telecast on JioHotstar.
NZ vs JPN Hockey Match Highlights
You can watch NZ vs JPN match Live Streaming and highlights on JioHotstar
NZ vs JPN match prediction video in Hindi will be posted soon
New Zealand vs Japan (NZ vs JPN) Squads
New Zealand (NZ) Squad: Sam Lane, Simon Child, Hugo Inglis, Dane Lett, Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant, Dominic Dixon(GK), Leon Hayward(GK), Nic Woods, Sean Findlay, Brad Read, Charlie Morrison, Buschl Malachi, Simon Yorston, Hayden Phillips, Jake Smith, Joseph Morrison, Isaac Houlbrooke, Scott Boyde
Japan (JPN) Squad: Shota Yamada, Manabu Yamashita, Seren-Tanaka, Ken Nagayoshi, Yuma Nagai, Raiki Fujishima, Yusuke Kawamura, Kosei Kawabe, Yamato Kawahara, Takumi Kitagawa(GK), Ren Kashiwagi, Naru Kimura, Keita Watanabe, Yosei Oba(GK), Kazumasa Matsumoto, Yuito Matsuzaki, Tsubasa Tanaka, Yuki Chiba
DISCLAIMER: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q-1, What is the Match prediction for today's NZ vs JPN match?
A-1, For NZ vs JPN, New Zealand will take on Japan at 2026-08-18 13:00:00 IST, and our expert prediction helps you pick the best Dream11 lineup for this exciting clash.
Q-2, What are the best Dream11 fantasy tips for NZ vs JPN?
A-2, Get smart Hockey fantasy tips for NZ vs JPN with safe small-league picks, high-upside grand-league options, and the latest injury updates from Possible11.
Q-3, Which small-league must-picks should I choose for today's Hockey match?
A-3, Check the latest small-league must-picks for today's Hockey game on the Possible11 website or app to build a stronger and safer fantasy team.
Q-4, Which grand-league must-picks are ideal for today's Hockey match?
A-4, Explore the top grand-league must-picks for today's Hockey match on Possible11 and pick bold players with high upside for bigger rewards.
Q-5, What are the best captain and vice-captain choices for NZ vs JPN?
A-5, Choose your captain and vice-captain carefully based on form, matchup, and recent performances, and check Possible11 for the latest expert suggestions.
Q-6, Are there any injury updates for NZ vs JPN today?
A-6, There are no major injury updates at the moment for NZ vs JPN, but we will update the app and website as soon as new news arrives.
Q-7, Where can I watch the live score for NZ vs JPN today?
A-7, You can follow the live score for NZ vs JPN on the Possible11.com website and the Possible11 app.
