Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke sustains facial bruise in World Cup draw with Japan

In the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, Japan and the Netherlands finished 2‑2. During the game, Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke collided with Japanese forward Daizen Maeda. The impact left Van Hecke with a painful bruise around his right eye, temporary vision loss and a lingering sensation of hardness, though officials said the injury was not serious. He described the hit as a direct strike to his head that caused intense pain and a brief visual impairment.

The match saw Japan come back late to secure a draw, while the Netherlands were unable to hold onto their earlier lead.