Japan and the Netherlands traded goals as a promising Group F opener to the 2026 World Cup delivered the goods and then some from Dallas Stadium in Texas.
The Dutch took 1-0 and 2-1 leads through Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville, but Daichi Kamada’s unwitting headed goal in the 89th minute joined Keito Nakamura’s deflected effort in securing equalizers and a point for the Samurai Blue.
WATCH — Netherlands v Japan full match replay
Ronald Koeman’s Dutch have been discussed as possible tournament winners while Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan are viewed as a possible dark horse. There are reasons to believe in both sides after this beauty.
Neither side conceded a full expected goal and the possession share of 60-40 to the Dutch would’ve been fine for a Japan team happy to play the role of counterattacker.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch set up both Dutch goals and showed a box-to-box presence with effective play in all thirds and on both sides of the field.
Thick Group F plot gets denser
Sweden and Tunisia are good sides who can make decent cases to advance from Group F, but surely they might’ve preferred a single winner from this game. After all, the prized footing of Group F leader will likely last through all six games now that the Samurai Blue managed to take a point from the Oranje. The Netherlands will be the more frustrated of the two sides as they nearly doubled Japan’s amount of touches in the opposition box but couldn’t turn that into high xG chances. Japan, meanwhile, came to counter, countered, and got what has to be considered an acceptable point. A Netherlands win would’ve put the Dutch would’ve solidified their status as favorites not just for the group but in the tournament final discussion. A Japan win would’ve turned their dark horse jet black. Instead, now Sweden and Tunisia can look to their opener as a way to take three points that will put either in the group driver’s seat. Fun!
Netherlands vs Japan final score: 2-2
Virgil van Dijk 51', Keito Nakamura 57', Crysencio Summerville 64', Daichi Kamada 89'
What’s next?
The Netherlands play Sweden at 1pm ET Saturday, a half day before Japan’s Midnight tangle with Tunisia.
Daichi Kamada goal — Netherlands 2-2 Japan
The stadium erupts as we’re level in the 89th minute.
A whipped-in corner kick is nodded toward goal by Koki Ogawa, and it turns off the head of an unknowing Daichi Kamada.
A flying Verbruggen can only adjust his body enough to paw the ball into the roof of the goal.
¡TREMENDO GOLAZO DE JAPÓN! ¡LO EMPATAN EN LO ÚLTIMO!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2026
Daichi Kamada marca con un CABEZAZO en un tiro de esquina y empareja el encuentro ante Países Bajos.
¿El mejor partido del Mundial al momento? pic.twitter.com/QmZy2OMR6w
Crysencio Summerville goal — Netherlands 2-1 Japan
Wow.
West Ham man Crysencio Summerville gets the ball on the left edge of the 18 off a tidy pass from Gravenberch.
Summerville cuts inside and spins a hard shot toward the far post, kissing the inside of the frame on its way to restoring the Netherlands’ lead in the 64th minute.
Three goals in 14 minutes.
¡PAÍSES BAJOS OTRA VEZ ARRIBA!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2026
¡Golazo! Crysencio Summerville define de linda forma para devolverle la ventaja a los neerlandés.
Se ponen 2-1 arriba sobre Japón. pic.twitter.com/4d7SYPNwC7
Keito Nakamura goal (video) — Netherlands 1-1 Japan
Level in Dallas!
Keito Nakamura takes the ball off from Takefusa Kubo on the left, then drives toward the top of the arc and whips a shot through traffic that turns off Jan Paul van Hecke to beat Brighton teammate Bart Verbruggen.
Six minutes after going behind, the Dutch and Samurai Blue are even.
¡GOLAZO DE JAPÓN! ¡REACCIÓN INMEDIATA! ¡HAY PARTIDO!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2026
Tremendo gol de Keito Nakamura, saca un disparo que sorprende al portero neerlandés. pic.twitter.com/6MklmJJrFl
Virgil van Dijk goal (video) — Netherlands 1-0 Japan
A Liverpool connection pays off for the Dutch as Ryan Gravenberch sweeps in a cross that makes its way to Virgil van Dijk, and the big back nods inside the frame.
¡PAÍSES BAJOS PEGA PRIMERO!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2026
Virgil van Dijk hace un tremendo cabezazo y pone arriba a su selección sobre Japón.
El defensa de Liverpool haciendo el primer gol neerlandés en la Copa del Mundo 2026. pic.twitter.com/YQpNww1scW
Halftime — Netherlands 0-0 Japan
The Dutch have had the ball in better places on the whole but Japan have countered with vigor and are picking their spots well.
Shots are 5-3 to the Dutch while Zion Suzuki’s three saves come on the game’s only attempts on target, with Donyell Malen the biggest threat.
So close for Japan (x2)!
The best choice for Japan if not in the game as a whole.
Reims winger Keito Nakamura gets the ball on the left flank and nearly squeezes it inside the near post.
The Samurai Blue then attack the other side, where Ayase Ueda cannot hammer a shot inside the frame from a tight angle.
Netherlands threat grows
Suzuki has to make a save and the Dutch now get a free kick.
The ball falls for Cody Gakpo but his plant foot slips and the ball zips over the bar.
0-0, 37'.
Very even with few in-roads
Netherlands have had more of the ball but that’s somewhat of a preference for Japan, who are happy to be a counterattacking sides.
Not much time with the ball for either time in the opposition’s box and just one shot attempt each.
0-0, 30'.
Japan find foot after nervy opening
The Dutch rattled the Samurai Blue within moments of kickoff, forcing New Jersey-born Zion Suzuki into a save.
But Japan went the other way and held the ball in Netherlands territory for some time, earning a dangerous free kick but not doing much to add to the peril.
0-0, 9'
Netherlands team news, focus
The main injury concern for the Dutch is Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen going down with an injury in their final warm up game. Koeman has a big decision to make as to whether Verbruggen starts but has Mark Flekken and Robin Roefs as excellent back up options. In defense Virgil van Dijk will hold things together with Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven either side of him. Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay are all so important to this Dutch side, with 15 of their 26 players playing in the Premier League.
Japan team news, focus
There are plenty of extremely dangerous forwards Japan rely on to share the attacking load with Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo and Koki Ogawa all sharing around the goalscoring responsibility. Captain Wataru Endo couldn’t recover from injury in time for this tournament which is a big blow, but Japan have so many solid midfield options with Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada and Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka set to play big roles.
Netherlands vs Japan prediction
This could easily be a draw but it feels like it could be an upset, of sorts, with Japan catching the Dutch out on the break. Netherlands 1-2 Japan.
How to watch Netherlands vs Japan live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 4pm ET Sunday (June 14)
Venue: AT&T Stadium — Dallas, Texas
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol
