The Netherlands and Japan shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw in their opening Group F match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, June 14, at the Dallas Stadium.
After a goalless first half, Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the 50th minute to give the Netherlands the lead.
Japan responded quickly. Keito Nakamura equalised seven minutes later before Daichi Kamada fired home from outside the box in the 88th minute to put the Asian side ahead.
The Dutch, however, found a way back through Crysencio Summerville, who levelled in the 64th minute to ensure both teams took a point from an evenly contested encounter.
The statistics reflected the balance of the game. Both sides registered 10 shots, although the Netherlands were more accurate with six efforts on target compared to Japan’s three.
The Dutch also held a slight edge in possession and completed more passes, while Japan remained dangerous on the counterattack and matched their opponents’ attacking threat from wide areas.
The Netherlands scored both goals from inside the penalty area, while Japan showed greater variety in attack, with Kamada’s long-range strike proving one of the highlights of the match.
The draw leaves both teams with a point in Group F as they continue their push for a place in the knockout stage.
