Dramatic match between Netherlands and Japan, match ended 2-2
The Netherlands played out a 2-2 draw against Japan in their first match at the World Cup 2026. The team took the lead twice, but Japan equalized in the end. The venue of the game was AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Netherlands, playing under the coaching of Ronald Koeman, drew 2-2 against Japan in their first match at the FIFA World Cup 2026. This match was not only important for the result, but also gave rise to apprehensions about the future of the team.
Koeman had already kept Memphis Depay, the Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer, on the bench due to injury. Crysencio Summerville was given a chance in his place, while Donyell Malen played the role of striker.
The first half was played at a slow pace, in which the Netherlands controlled the ball, but Japan did not give them any special chances. Donyell Malen created two important chances in the first half, but no goals could be scored.
Early in the second half, Virgil van Dijk attempted to score from a corner and was successful, giving the Netherlands a 1–0 lead. Soon after, Japan's Keito Nakamura scored the equalizing goal.
Crysencio Summerville again gave the Netherlands a 2–1 lead, but Daichi Kamada finally scored from a corner to tie the match at 2–2.
The match was attended by a total of 69,285 spectators and was played at AT&T Stadium, where the air conditioning was running during the game.
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