Netherlands and Japan draw 2-2 in World Cup 2026 opener
On 14 June 2026 the Netherlands and Japan played to a 2‑2 stalemate in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Virgil van Dijk gave the Dutch the lead in the 51st minute with a header from a Ryan Gravenberch cross, but Keito Nakamura equalised five minutes later. Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands’ advantage in the 64th minute, only for Daichi Kamada to level the score in the 89th minute after his header diverted a Koki Ogawa corner. Both sides finished with a single point and will face Sweden and Tunisia in their next group matches. The match featured line‑ups announced by coaches Ronald Koeman (Netherlands) and Hajime Moriyasu (Japan), with notable selections such as Bart Verbruggen, Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong for the Dutch and Zion Suzuki, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda for Japan. The result keeps the group open and highlights Japan’s resilience against a traditionally strong European side.