Japan rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F opener on 15 June at Dallas, Texas, with Kamada heading in a chaotic 88th-minute corner to deny the Dutch a winning start in front of 69,285 fans. The result means Group F remains wide open from the first matchday.

How the Goals Fell

Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock on 51 minutes, rising to plant a precise header into the bottom corner from a pinpoint cross by Ryan Gravenberch. Japan hit back almost immediately — Nakamura wriggled free and fired low past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen on 57 minutes, the ball deflecting slightly off Jan Paul van Hecke on its way in.

The Dutch restored their lead on 64 minutes when West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville beat his marker on the right flank and curled a left-footed effort into Suzuki's bottom-right corner. Japan levelled again in the 88th minute through Kamada, who turned in a corner-kick scramble to complete the comeback.

Dutch Dominance That Did Not Last

The Netherlands were the more threatening side for long stretches, with Donyell Malen — the Roma forward — testing goalkeeper Zion Suzuki twice in the opening exchanges with a swivel shot and a header from a corner. Cody Gakpo also fired over from a promising position. Notably, this was the first time the Netherlands had named a starting XI with no home-based players for a World Cup fixture — a reflection of how many Dutch players now ply their trade in elite European leagues.

Japan's first genuine chance came just before half-time when a cross evaded the backtracking Summerville, but Nakamura pulled his low effort wide. Coach Ronald Koeman's side looked most dangerous from aerial deliveries, a pattern that eventually yielded Van Dijk's opener.

Japan's Resilience on Show

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu had drilled his side to defend patiently and press aggressively in transition, and that blueprint held even when the scoreline turned against them — twice. The 14-minute burst in which Japan conceded and then equalised in the second half illustrated both the team's vulnerability to set-pieces and their ability to respond under pressure.

After the final whistle, Moriyasu said: 'I'm disappointed that we failed to win, but even though we fell behind twice, the players never gave up and fought hard together as a team. While earning only a point is a little disappointing, we managed to get a result through our collective effort. We defended patiently and then tried to be more aggressive going forward. The players executed what we had planned and prepared for.'

Group F Standings and What Comes Next

The draw leaves both Japan and the Netherlands on one point apiece after the opening round of Group F fixtures. The Dutch will be concerned that a lead they held twice slipped away, while Japan will take confidence from showing the character to come back on two separate occasions against a side ranked among Europe's strongest. Both teams will be eager to secure three points in their next outings to avoid an early exit.