Japan came back twice and snatched a fantastic point against the Netherlands in one of the most entertaining matches so far in the 2026 World Cup.
The match in Dallas in Group F had been hailed as one of the championship’s most exciting encounters – and it certainly lived up to expectations.
After a rather cautious first half between perhaps the biggest nation that has never won football’s biggest award, and a team many point to as a sensational candidate, the game took off completely after the break.
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Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring five minutes into the second half, but Japan responded immediately through Nakamura. Crysencio Summerville restored the lead for the Dutch shortly after, but the Asian giants refused to give up – and in injury time, Daichi Kamada stepped up to make it 2-2.
The result? A crazy match that will probably be one of the most memorable matches in the group stage.
A fascinating meeting – it finally came to life
The Oranje were hoping for a strong start to the tournament, especially after they crashed out in the quarter-finals against eventual champions Argentina four years ago.
And they looked sharp from the start. Already in the opening minutes came a precise attack that ended with Donyell Malen getting the ball just inside the sixteen-meter box. The striker took one touch, gained a meter of space – and fired away. Zion Suzuki had to go to great lengths to hit the ball over the goal.
With the Dutch largely dominating the ball, Suzuki had to be alert again when Malen got another chance at close range from a corner kick. Cody Gakpo then fired over from close range at full stretch, while Nakamura had Japan’s clearest chance in the first half – but the wing-back shot wide.
Second half: Van Dijk, equaliser – and then it all took off
After an even first half, it only took five minutes into the second before the score was broken. A cross – and captain Van Dijk soared. His header was masterful, the ball went across the goal, hit the inside of the post – and ended up in the net.
But Japan did not give up.
Barely six minutes later, the equalizer came. An elegant attack on the left, and Nakamura made no mistake with his second attempt. He finished in style – 1-1.
When the game started to open up, it was the Netherlands’ turn to fight back. And they did so with force. Summerville turned a beautiful shot into the far corner. 2-1 to the Netherlands with just over 25 minutes left.
Japan refused to give up – and the reward came in overtime
Takefusa Kubo saw a shot whizz just over the crossbar, and Yukinari Sugawara fired straight into the hands of Bart Verbruggen. Japan chased, chased – and chased on.
Then, in the extra time, the reward came. From a corner kick, substitute Koki Ogawa headed the ball on to Kamada, who hammered it into the goal. Verbruggen barely had time to react.
Samurai Blue in ecstasy. The Netherlands in shock. And the crowd in Dallas had just seen one of the best games of the championship so far.
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