Netherlands 2-2 Japan: World Cup 2026 – live

Match report: Netherlands 2-2 Japan

The World Cup continued to produce the unexpected in Arlington. On a throbbingly hot afternoon in the low flat plains outside Dallas the Netherlands. Japan played out an episodically thrilling opening Group F game, Daichi Kamada scoring an 88th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2 just as the Dutch looked like taking an early hold on one of the tougher groups.

Sport does like to spring surprises. As the entire bib-clad Japanese bench emptied on to the pitch to celebrate Kamada’s deflected goal from a corner. it was tempting to wonder if perhaps the unthinkable is happening here.

There has been so much talk of tired players, format failure. empty seats (the stadium was full here), talk so feverishly committed you wondered at times if it was necessary to play the games at all. But it does feel as though something else has been taking place in the opening games. Maybe – whisper it – the World Cup is actually good.

The other teams in Group F, Sweden and Tunisia, meet in just under four hours’ time. Then it’s Netherlands v Sweden and Tunisia v Japan on Saturday (or the early hours of Sunday).

It’s been a pretty good start to the World Cup: 31 goals in 10 games, some historic moments. plenty of late drama. Gianni Infantino is a genius, the end.

Join Beau Dure for all the team news ahead of an intriguing game in Philadelphia. Ecuador, whose squad includes Willian Pacho. Piero Hincapie, not to mention that Caicedo fella, finished second in Conmebol qualifying and conceded only five goals in 18 games.

“This is the best match of the World Cup so far,” says Kári Tulinius, flicking an insouciant two fingers in the direction of Simon McMahon. James Humphries. “I’ll admit that I struggled to stay awake during the first half, but the second had me being involuntarily loud. accidentally waking my daughter. Happily she’s back asleep.”

Well that escalated slowly. A cautious first half was followed by a thrilling second in. Japan twice came from behind to earn a point.

Virgil van Dijk. Crysensio Summerville finished expertly to put the Netherlands 1-0 and then 2-1 up, only for the superb wingback Keito Nakamura and then Daichi Kamada to equalise.

Both Japan goals were deflected, it’s true, but overall the scoreline feels about right.

90+5 min “This has indeed been more or less the hoped-for game. it’s perked me right up,” says James Humphries, who was already kite-high at kick off. “I can even recall what day it is tomorrow!”

I bet you can, sunshine.

90+4 min I bet the Dutch commentariat will love the fact Ronald Koeman switched to a back five before conceding a late equaliser.

90+3 min A big deep cross from Dumfries is headed wide by Koopmeiners. Loads of defenders around so it was a very tough chance.

90 min Six minutes of added time. Van de Ven has been booked for something or other.

A corner from the right was met at the near post by the substitute Koki Ogawa. His header hit the head of Daichi Kamada, who knew the square root of bugger all about it,. flew towards goal. Verbruggen dived to his left, got two hands to the ball but could only help it into the net.

Verbruggen might have done better, but Japan will feel they deserve a point after dominating the last quarter. When they try to score goals, they look a very good side.

Japan are level right at the death!

86 min Nakamura blasts a dangerous cross that just evades Ogawa in front of goal.

Japan have played their best attacking football, by far, when they’ve been behind in the game. Next stop, rocket science.

85 min: Netherlands substitution Brian Brobbery comes on for Cody Gakpo, who rarely lets Netherlands down at major tournaments.

84 min: Japan substitution Kento Shiogai on for Ayase Ueda.

83 min Depay is booked for something or other, let’s not got into semantics here.

82 min We’re not done here, oh no sir. But when we are, this is your next assignment.

81 min: Netherlands substitution Nathan Ake replaces Ryan Gravenberch, who created both goals.

I guess that means a switch to a back five in response to Japan’s tactical tweak.

80 min: Chance for Japan A nice. zig-zag move down the right ends with Junya Ito cutting the ball back sharply towards Sugewara in the area. He slips while lifting a shot that is comfortably saved by Verbruggen.

Actually, the reason Sugewara lost his balance is that Ito’s cutback was slightly behind him.

78 min Some good pressure from Japan, who are now playing with two centre-forwards, it says here.

77 min “I’m sure Mac Millings will be able to come up with a ‘Hydration XI’ by tomorrow,” writes Simon McMahon. “just so Mrs Millings doesn’t think he’s been enjoying himself too much..”

Depends which type of Hydration XI we’re talking about.

75 min: Triple substitution for Japan Takehiro Tomiyasu, Koki Ogawa. Yukinari Sugawara replace Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Ritsu Doan and the injured Takefusa Kubo.

73 min A trademark effort from Gakpo – cutting inside. then reversing a shot towards the near post – is pushed round by Suzuki. Good save.

The resulting corner is headed towards goal by Van Hecke and saved comfortably by Suzuki.

72 min “These are two of the more gifted technical sides at the tournament so it’s been good to see an outbreak of football after the break,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Enjoying these McDonald’s hydration breaks every 5 minutes - the world is too rush rush. Blow the whistle. Stop. Have a ciggie. Enjoy it.”

70 min: Netherlands substitutions Memphis Depay, Teun Koopmeiners. Quinten Timber come on for Donyell Malen, Tijjani Reinders and Crysencio Summerville.

67 min Takefusa Kubo almost equalises for Japan with an imaginative long-range effort. The reason for this unacceptably vague description is that I missed it while looking at reader emails,. there hasn’t been a replay on the TV coverage.

Time for another hydration break.

67 min: Japan substitution Junya Ito comes on for Daezan Maeda.

66 min Hiroki Ito makes an goal-saving block from Gakpo, who was offside anyway so forget it.

Gravenberch, who now has two assists, played a short pass to Summerville on the right edge of the area. He moved infield, onto his left foot,. swept a precise curling shot that bounced past the diving Suzuki and into the far corner.

At first I thought the keeper might have done better. Not a bit of it: replays show that Summerville’s shot could not have been more precise.

A word too for Denzel Dumfries, whose overlapping run gave Summerville the chance to cut inside. “ Uses him by not using him ” and all that.

A fortnight ago, Crysencio Summerville was uncapped; now he has a World Cup goal!