Japan earned a valuable point against the strong Netherlands in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup.
Japan, ranked 18th by FIFA, drew 2-2 with the 8th-ranked Netherlands on June 15 at the Dallas Stadium in Texas.
The first half saw the Netherlands dominate, but Japan's goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, made several key saves to keep the score level at halftime.
The deadlock was broken in the second half when Virgil van Dijk scored with a header for the Netherlands in the 50th minute. However, Japan quickly responded, with Keito Nakamura equalizing just six minutes later.
The Netherlands regained the lead with a goal from Cresencio Summerville, but Japan refused to give up. In the 88th minute, Daichi Kamada scored with a header from a corner kick, leveling the match at 2-2.
The game ended in a draw, allowing Japan to secure a crucial point against a team considered a favorite to win the tournament, giving them a positive start in the group stage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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