Japan fought back twice to earn a precious point in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands on Sunday (Monday morning, Japan time), drawing 2-2 thanks to equalising goals from Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada.
The Netherlands were the more proactive of the two sides in the early exchanges at Dallas Stadium, and almost opened the scoring in just the third minute.
Donyell Malen turned former Kawasaki Frontale defender Shogo Taniguchi to get a shot off from the edge of the area, but ex-Urawa Reds goalkeeper Zion Suzuki got down superbly to make a terrific save.
Suzuki was called upon again in the 34th minute, this time dealing with a Micky van de Ven header after Tijjani Reijnders’ corner from the right.
The Samurai Blue started to threaten themselves towards the end of the opening period, with Nakamura, once of Gamba Osaka, having their first attempt in the 43rd minute when he lashed just wide of the near post.
Ayase Ueda, who started his J.LEAGUE career with Kashima Antlers, also fired a warning shot just before the break, sending a 45th-minute effort into the side netting from a tight angle after a wonderful ball in behind from ex-Sagan Tosu player Kamada.
Disaster then struck for Japan five minutes into the second half, when Denzel Dumfries swung a cross into the area from deep and Virgil van Dijk rose highest to glance a header across goal and in off the far post.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side responded well to that setback though, and pulled level seven minutes later.
Former FC Tokyo player Takefusa Kubo put his foot on the ball in the area and drew the attention of three Netherlands defenders, before laying off for Nakamura, who carved his way into space on the edge of the box and fizzed a low strike into the bottom corner.
That joy was short lived, however, as Japan fell behind again in the 65th minute - Crysencio Summerville sweeping in a left-footed effort from just inside the penalty area after being teed up by Ryan Gravenberch.
Japan refused to be beaten though, and they made sure of a point with just two minutes remaining.
Ex-Kashiwa Reysol winger Junya Ito swung in a corner from the right, and fellow substitute and former Yokohama FC striker Koki Ogawa powered a header towards goal that Kamada got the slightest of touches to on its way into the net, sparking joy for the Japan fans in the stadium and many more watching on screens back home.
Next up in Group F, Japan will take on Tunisia on Saturday (Sunday afternoon, Japan time) in Monterrey, as they aim for their first three points of the competition.
