Japan draws 2-2 with Netherlands in World Cup opener, fans celebrate resilience

Japan’s national team earned a 2‑2 draw against the Netherlands in the opening match of the three‑nation North‑Central America tournament. The result gave Japan a valuable point and was hailed by supporters as a strong start.

In the coastal town of Wajima, 15 residents gathered at the town hall before dawn to watch the game on a public screen, cheering the “courage” of the players and saying the draw gave them hope. Similarly, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi, a sports bar filled with about 30 fans who cheered the late equaliser, calling the point "the best possible start" for the "historically strongest" Samurai Blue team.