Kamada strikes late as Japan rallies twice to draw Netherlands 2-2

Japan showed resilience and tactical maturity, twice recovering from deficits to hold the Netherlands 2-2 in its World Cup Group F opener at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before 69,285 spectators. Daichi Kamada’s late header, redirected after a Junya Ito corner and a Koki Ogawa effort, denied the Dutch a winning start and left both teams with one point.

After a scoreless first half in the 3 p.m. match on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Virgil van Dijk put the Netherlands in front in the 51st minute. Japan answered six minutes later through Keito Nakamura, then absorbed another setback when Crysencio Summerville restored the Dutch lead in the 64th minute. Kamada delivered again in the 88th minute, with Bart Verbruggen unable to keep the ball out, and Japan had a result that reflected more than persistence. It showed a side that could absorb pressure, reset quickly and strike back against one of the tournament’s traditional powers.

The draw extended Japan’s unbeaten run to eight matches and kept the Netherlands unbeaten in World Cup group play for 16 games. FIFA’s match report said the Dutch had looked poised to take command of Group F after Summerville’s goal, but Japan refused to concede the game to the expected script. The Dutch also remained 21-2-11 in World Cup group play, a record that underlines how hard they are to break down in the tournament’s opening rounds.

The meeting was the first World Cup clash between Japan and the Netherlands since 2010, when the Dutch won 1-0 in South Africa on a Wesley Sneijder goal. Japan entered the match with added scrutiny after captain Wataru Endo was ruled out three days earlier with a left-foot injury, prompting coach Hajime Moriyasu to apologize publicly for his absence. Even without their captain, Japan matched the Netherlands for composure and belief, and in the closing minutes turned a difficult opener into evidence that the team belongs in the tournament’s upper tier.