Japan Secures Dramatic 2-2 Draw Against Netherlands

Japan, which has declared its ambition to challenge for the top of the world, showed its resilience by securing one point after a hard-fought battle against powerhouse Netherlands in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Japanese national football team, led by manager Hajime Moriyasu, drew 2-2 in their first Group F match of the tournament held at Dallas Stadium in Texas, U.S., on June 15 (KST), thanks to an equalizer by Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) in the 88th minute.

After conceding the opening goal to the Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) in the second half, Japan restored balance with an equalizer from Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims). Although they lost the lead again after conceding a goal to Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United), Japan escaped defeat with a lucky goal from Kamada with just two minutes of regular time remaining.

With this, all member nations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in this tournament have secured points in their opening matches up to this day.

In earlier matches, South Korea and Australia defeated the Czech Republic and Türkiye, respectively, while Qatar drew with Switzerland.

Group F, which includes the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, is regarded as the "group of death" in this tournament.

In particular, the match between the Netherlands and Japan is considered one of the few blockbuster matchups in the entire group stage of the tournament.

Prior to the match, the Netherlands was ranked 8th in the FIFA rankings, while Japan was ranked 18th.

Japan's best-ever performance in the World Cup is reaching the round of 16 four times (2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022).

At the 2022 Qatar tournament, they pulled off upsets by defeating Germany and Spain 2-1 each in the group stage to advance to the round of 16, but failed to progress further after losing to Croatia in a penalty shootout.

The Netherlands, managed by Ronald Koeman, has finished as runners-up three times (1974, 1978, and 2010) but has never won the title.

In 2022, they suffered a bitter exit in the quarterfinals after drawing 2-2 with Argentina and losing 3-4 in the penalty shootout.

In the first half of the match, the Netherlands dominated possession and controlled the game, but failed to produce results.

Just three minutes into the game, Donyell Malen received a pass from Cody Gakpo inside the penalty area with his back to the goal and attempted a right-footed turning shot, but it was saved by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

In the 34th minute and again in the 48th minute of the first half during stoppage time, Malen's headers following Tijjani Reijnders' right-side corner kicks were blocked by the goalkeeper.

Japan recorded three shots in the first half, but none of them were on target.

Japan recorded its first shot only in the 28th minute, after a cooling break, when Hiroki Ito's long-range effort went high into the air. In the 43rd minute, Nakamura's right-footed shot from the left side of the goal area went slightly wide, and two minutes later, Ayase Ueda, who penetrated the space behind the opponent's defense, hit the side netting with a right-footed shot.

The match heated up in the second half, which began without any substitutions from either side.

It began with Van Dijk's opening goal in the 51st minute.

Just as the Netherlands' left corner kick attack seemed to come to nothing, Van Dijk broke the deadlock by heading home a cross from his Liverpool (England) teammate Ryan Gravenberch from the right side of the opponent's half.

However, Japan quickly brought the game back to level terms.

Takefusa Kubo penetrated the left side of the opponent's penalty area and passed the ball to Nakamura, who found the back of the Dutch net with a right-footed shot from near the penalty arc.

The Netherlands then took the lead again in the 64th minute.

Summerville, receiving the ball from Gravenberch, fired a low left-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area that hit the left post and went into the net.

Japan faced a setback when Kubo had to receive treatment for a left knee injury off the pitch before being replaced by Koki Ogawa in the 75th minute, but they continued to push for an equalizer with offensive substitutions.

Ultimately, during a corner kick opportunity, Ogawa's header deflected off Kamada's head and went into the net, securing a point for Japan.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.