The Netherlands draw with Japan in a thrilling opening match of Group F at the 2026 World Cup

The first match of Group F of the 2026 World Cup ended in a 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Japan. The match gained momentum in the second half, when Oranje took the lead twice, but the Japanese were able to respond each time. The first half was not full of scoring opportunities, but the best opportunity had Malen, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Suzuki. After the break, the game started to heat up. In the 51st minute, captain Virgil van Dijk gave the Netherlands the lead when he headed in a cross from Gravenberch. Japan responded six minutes later when Nakamura equalized with a long-range shot.  Koeman's team took the lead again in the 64th minute, thanks to some great work from Summerville, who scored with an unstoppable left-footed shot. When it seemed that the Netherlands were heading for victory, Japan again found the strength to respond: in the 89th minute, after a corner kick, Ogawa scored with a header, and Kamada changed the ball's path, surprising Verbruggen and making the score 2-2. Both teams started their World Cup campaign by sharing points while waiting for the result of the second Group F match between Sweden and Tunisia. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Japan mit zwei Eredivisie-Spielern gegen die Niederlande](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/japan-mit-zwei-eredivisie-spielern-gegen-die-niederlande) 2. [Niederlande gibt Sieg gegen Japan bei WM-Start in der Schlussphase aus der Hand](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/niederlande-gibt-sieg-gegen-japan-bei-wm-start-in-der-schlussphase-aus-der-hand)