World Cup 2026: Japan salvages dramatic draw against Netherlands
Japan came from behind twice to secure a valuable point in their 2026 World Cup Group F opener against the Netherlands.
Japan opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The Asian side showed great resilience, coming from behind twice to secure a vital point in Group F.
The first half was a balanced affair with chances for both sides. The Netherlands threatened through Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo, while Japan responded with dangerous attempts from Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda, though the deadlock remained unbroken at the break.
The intensity spiked in the second half. Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, connecting with a cross from Ryan Gravenberch. Japan responded quickly as Keito Nakamura equalized following a setup from Takefusa Kubo. The Netherlands regained the lead in the 64th minute thanks to a powerful long-range strike from C. Summerville.
Just as it looked like the Dutch would take all three points, Japan found a late breakthrough. In the closing minutes, Koki Ogawa rose to meet a corner kick, and a slight deflection off Kamada sent the ball past Bart Verbruggen to secure a dramatic 2-2 finish.