In the duel between the two favorites in World Cup Group F, the Netherlands gave up victory against Japan shortly before the end.
In the 2-2 (0-0) on Sunday evening (June 13th, 2026), Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk took the lead for the Elftal in the 51st minute, and five minutes later Keito Nakamura equalized. With his first international goal in the 64th minute, Crysencio Summerville set the course for victory for the Netherlands, but shortly before the end of regular time, Daichi Kamada deflected a header from Koki Ogawa into the goal – Kamada was named as the goalscorer by FIFA.
Ronald Koeman’s team had their first big chance after just three minutes. Donyell Malen, who shot AS Roma into the Champions League in the second half of the season and brought super form to the World Cup, shot hard from the edge of the penalty area – Japan keeper Zion Suzuki steered the ball over the crossbar with great effort.
Over half an hour of football to help you fall asleep
But after that the game literally fell asleep. Japan defended with a five-man chain and didn’t do much forward. The Oranje team mostly tried to go wide with Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville, but couldn’t get through. Goal shooting statistics at the first drinking break in the middle of the first half: 1-0 for the Netherlands, Malen’s shot was actually the only one left.
It took until the 35th minute before the spectators in Dallas were woken from their half-sleep again – and Malen was involved again. However, his close-range header from Tijjani Reijnders’ corner was too misplaced to cause serious problems for Suzuki. Shortly afterwards, Frenkie de Jong and Gakpo tried from distance, but they also lacked accuracy.
Two chances out of nowhere for Japan – then van Dijk scores
It was only immediately before the end of the first half that Japan decided to take an active part in the game again. And things immediately became really dangerous for Bart Verbruggen in the Dutch goal. After a right-wing cross from Takefusa Kubo, Summerville jumped under the ball, allowing Keito Nakamura to finish freely, but the ball missed the left post by inches. Two minutes later, Ayase Ueda was also unchallenged in the Orange penalty area after a pass from Daichi Kamada, but only hit the side netting.
In the second half, the Japanese pulled back a long way and received the penalty: Ryan Grevenberch hit an outstanding cross from the right half of the field, van Dijk, completely free-standing, spiraled into the air in the center and headed precisely into the right corner from ten meters.
Gravenberch with the second assist – but Ogawa equalizes
Shortly afterwards, as if on command, the Japanese switched back into attack mode. Kubo dribbled his way through on the right wing and fed Nakamura in the center, who took a hidden shot from 18 meters: Daezen Maeda made a slight deflection and Verbruggen stretched in vain. The football chess game of the first round had now turned into an exchange of blows that continued seamlessly. The strong Gravenberch, who Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel had once largely ignored at Bayern Munich, served Summerville, who, in Arjen Robben style, moved from the right to the middle and sank the ball into the left corner, out of reach of Suzuki.
Afterwards, Japan tried a few more things, tirelessly defending the Dutch, but at first there were hardly any dangerous scenes. Van Dijk in particular had everything under control in the center, but just before the end of regular time, Ogawa, who was substituted on in the 75th minute, headed the equaliser. Van Dijk, of all people, allowed himself to be taken by surprise once in the air and the ball was decisively deflected by Kamada – but Verbruggen didn’t exactly look brilliant in the Oranje goal.
Netherlands now against Sweden
The Netherlands now continues against Sweden on Saturday at 7 p.m. CEST in Houston. Japan will face Tunisia on Sunday morning at 6 a.m.