Netherlands vs Japan highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: JPN hold NED 2-2 in group game

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Full-time

Daichi Kamada did now know a whole lot about the goal that hit him before sneaking into the Dutch goal. Not that he would care. it's a goal that levelled the score 2-2 with two minutes from time.

All four goals were scored in the second half, with three of them being score in a 14-minute stretch. For the Dutch side, Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored to put them ahead. But Japan clawed back on both occasions.

At least the Netherlands have not suffered the fate that Germany and Spain experienced at the 2022 World Cup when they lost to Japan in group stage games.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: GOAL!

With just two minutes before full-time, Daichi Kamada scores! What resilience from Japan! For the second time in the game, they claw back to draw level!

It was Koki Ogawa whose shot was deflected successfully from Kamada.

Japan make it 2-2

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Japan still chasing

We have about five minutes left for the game to end and Japan have stepped up their chase for an equaliser. The latest chances comes after a run on the left flank and a cross that runs across the face of the goal without anyone getting at the end of it!

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: GOAL!

The Dutch lead again after Crysencio Summerville scores! After a goalless 50 minutes, we have had 3 goals in 14 minutes here!

In a goal that was taken out of the Arjen Robben playbook, Summerville goes on a run on the right flank then cuts back and into the box. Dodges his defender, and then arches his body back before curling the ball past the thicket of defenders in front of him to score!

WHAT A GOAL!

Netherlands 2-1 Japan

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: GOAL!

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: GOAL!

It takes all of seven minutes for Japan to level! Takefusa Kubo barges into the Dutch box before finding Keito Nakamura. Nakamura, who has been wasteful in the past, takes two touches on the ball, creates an angle and shoots past Bart Verbruggen to pull Japan level.

The ball seemed to take a healthy nick off a Japanese player, who could have been offside. But the goal stands.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: GOAL!

Virgil van Dijk heads the ball in after the ball is scrambled away from a freekick!

It's his 13th goal for the Netherlands. He's only one goal behind the current Dutch coach Ronald Koeman as the Dutch defender with the most goals for the country.

Netherlands 1-0 Japan

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Second half about to start

Both sets of players taking their spot on the pitch as the second half gets underway. Can we pray for some goals in the second half? Are the soccer, I mean football, Gods hearing this plea? Or are they also barred from the USA due to visa restrictions?

Anyway, the second half begins.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Half-time

Call it the law of averages! After the Germany vs Curacao game where eight goals were scored (seven coming from the Germans), we have 45 minutes of no goals between Netherlands and Japan. Netherlands' Donyell Malen has had two great chances to change that, but each time found Japan keeper Zion Suzuki blocking his shots.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: CHANCE!

What a run and a cross from Maeda! He hares down the right flank before delivering an inch-perfect cross into the feet of Keito Nakamura, who finds himself unmarked inside the box just to the left of the goal. He controls the ball well, but his shot from his weaker right foot is wide. Just two minutes back, Nakamura had gone on a run of his own on the left flank, leaving behind his marker in his slipstream. But his pass was wayward into the box.

After 45 minutes, still goalless

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Malen vs Suzuki again!

This game looks like it could be decided by the personal battle between Netherlands' Donyell Malen and Japan keeper Zion Suzuki. For the second time in this half, Malen has a shot at goal palmed away by Suzuki.

This time, it was from a corner kick where Malen overpowered two defenders before heading the ball at goal. But Suzuki pulls off another big save.

After 40 minutes, NED 0-0 JPN

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Hydration break

That Dutch jersey is so bright that the TV screens are not able to show a clear picture of their forms. It's all an orange blur. And that's also the pace at which the game is being played at Arlington.

We have an advertising, sorry, hydration break in the first half.

So far we have had plenty of huffing and puffing. But no real goals. (Or imaginary ones either)

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Japan attacking

Japan have made some fast and furious attacking forays into the Deutch box, but little has come off of it. Nakamura and Maeda have made incisive runs so far!

Malen had the best chance of the night.

After 15 minutes, NED 0-0 JPN

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: CHANCE

The game starts off with a frantic energy with players running their hearts out. Japan defending in numbers, but in the blink of an eye the ball is passed into the box to Donyell Malen, who has been on a hot streak in club football where he scored 14 goals in 18 matches while on loan at Roma in the Serie A.

He's carried on that confidence into this game as he receives the ball, turns and shoots with force. But Zion Suzuki is up to the task and saves!

After three minutes, NED 0-0 JPN

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Here we go!

All orange kits for the Dutch team while the Japanese players are in their blues and whites!

Plenty of Dutch support in the stands fro mthe looks of things. And her we go! kickoff!

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Kickoff approaching soon

Alright here we go! Players lining up at the tunnel for the national anthems.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Focus on Japan

Japan might start the game as underdogs, but don't forget that at the previous World Cup in Qatar, Japan defeated both Germany and Spain to top Group E and advance to the first knockout round.

This time around, they know a fair about the Netherlands sincemany Japanese players have experience of playing in the Dutch league. Ayase Ueda ended the rpevious season as the Eredivisie top scorer. Defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe plays for Feyenoord. Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura have also played club football in the Netherlands.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Focus on Netherlands

The Dutch side did not make to the the 2018 World Cup. Then four years later, they got to the quarters in Qatar, where they were sent home by Argentina in penalties.

This time around they have qualified for the World Cup without a single loss in qualification.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Waiting for kickoff

We're just half an hour away from the kickoff! The day's already started off with a flier thanks to Germany smashing seven goals past Curacao. The tiny island nation from the Caribbean has alsoready scripted history by scoring their first ever World Cup goal.

Can we see more goals and more history in the Netherlands vs Japan game?

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Check out the subs

NED: Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, Ake, Wieffer, Hato, De Roon, Kluivert, Til, Q Timber, Koopmeiners, Weghorst, Depay, Lang, Brobbey
JPN: Osako, Hayakawa, Sugawara, Itakura, Nagatomo, Seko, Tomiyasu, J Suzuki, Tanaka, K Ito, Y Suzuki, Machino, Goto, Ogawa, Shiogai

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: Last time they met

Japan and Netherlands previously met in the World Cup in the 2010 edition where they were drawn in Group E. In that match, the Oranje just edged past the Samurai Blue by 1-0 with Wesley Sneijder scoring the lone goal. "Japan were one of the toughest teams we faced at this World Cup. They were incredibly impressive and we had to be at our absolute best for the full 90 minutes to win,” Sneijder had said after the match.

Netherlands vs Japan Live: Detailed team news

Wow. Japan have thrown a literal curve-ball with their starting lineup with new skipper Ko Itakura and former Arsenal player Tomiyasu starting on the bench with Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Shogo Taniguchi preferred in a defensive shakeup. And if you were wandering who will be patrolling the position left by Endo, the answer is Daizen Maeda.

As for the Dutch, they have gone with Crysencio Summerville in the front three which also includes Malen and Depay.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Playing XI's announced

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Malen, Depay, Summerville

Japan: Suzuki; H. Ito, Taniguchi, Watanabe; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Kubo, Maeda, Ueda

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: Kubo with all the strings

All eyes will be on Takefusa Kubo who was likened to Argentine legend Lionel Messi when he was just 10. He joined the famed Las Masia at 14 and displayed attributes that were quite similar to Messi-- he could tear through defences with his quick feet, showed immaculate upper-body strength despite his slight physique and could unleash incredible left-footed shots. Now, 21 years of age, Kubo, who plies his trade in Real Sociedad afer being in the books of both Real Madrid and Barcelona, is one of the brighest sparks in the Japan team.

Netherlands vs Japan Live: Endo's goodbye

The Blue Samurai were rocked early into their World Cup preparations when their original skipper Endo couldn’t recover from a left foot injury, leaving the camp. After getting home, he announced his retirement with Itakura taking the reins of leadership.

“Since being injured, I have done everything within my powers so I have no regrets. Obviously, it hurts that I will not be playing at this World Cup. But since the Qatar World Cup, I have led this team as captain and am proud to see us mature into a group capable of trying to win the World Cup. This team is truly a fantastic team. I am convinced they will overcome any and all obstacles and take us to see a view we have not seen before. I am now retiring from national team activities. So, from hereon I will support Japan as one of the fans. I have no doubt that there will come a time when Japan win the World Cup,” Endo had posted on X.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Germany dominating Curacao

Meanwhile, in the Germany vs Curacao game, the 4-time champions are absolutely thrashing the debutants. After the Comenencia goal, Schlotterbeck, Havertz, Musiala and Brown have all found the net for the Germans, stretching their lead to 5-1. If you want to follow that match, here's where you need to go.

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: Japan's Dutch connection

As for Japan, there are 2 players in their team who ply their trade in the Eredivisie--the Dutch league. They are new captain Ko Itakura and Takehiro Tomiyasu, both of whom play for Ajax.

Netherlands vs Japan Live: What's in store for Monday

1:30 AM: Netherlands vs Japan
4.30 AM: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
7:30 AM: Sweden vs Tunisia
9:30 PM: Spain vs Cape Verde

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: NED in 2026

Coming into the World Cup, the Netherlands squad doesn't have a player that screams superstar quality like the teams of yore which had Cruyff, Bergkamp and Robben/Sneijder in different eras. What they do have this time is improved depth, collective shape, a defensive solidity. These things don't depend on any one indiviadual but proves their collective strength. (READ MORE)

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: Japan WC history

1930: Withdrew
1934: Did not enter
1938: Withdrew
1950: Suspended from FIFA
1954: Did not qualify
1958: Did not enter
1962: Did not qualify
1966: Did not enter
1970: Did not qualify
1974: Did not qualify
1978: Did not qualify
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Did not qualify
1990: Did not qualify
1994: Did not qualify
1998: Group Stage
2002: Round of 16
2006: Group Stage
2010: Round of 16
2014: Group Stage
2018: Round of 16
2022: Round of 16

Netherlands vs Japan Live: NED World Cup history

1930: Did not enter
1934: Round of 16
1938: Round of 16
1950: Did not enter
1954: Did not enter
1958: Did not qualify
1962: Did not qualify
1966: Did not qualify
1970: Did not qualify
1974: Runners-up
1978: Runners-up
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Did not qualify
1990: Round of 16
1994: Quarterfinals
1998: 4th place
2002: Did not qualify
2006: Round of 16
2010: Runners-up
2014: Third place
2018: Did not qualify
2022: Quarterfinals

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: The tournament so far

June 12: Mexico 2-0 South Africa
June 12: South Korea 2-1 Czechia
June 13: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 13: USA 4-1 Paraguay
June 14: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
June 14: Brazil 1-1 Morocco
June 14: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
June 14: Australia 2-0 Turkey

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Head to head

Total matches: 3
NED wins: 2
JPN wins: 0
Draw: 1

Netherlands vs Japan Live: All of Group F matches

June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan (Dallas Stadium)
June 15: Sweden vs. Tunisia (Monterrey Stadium)
June 20: Netherlands vs. Sweden (Houston Stadium)
June 21: Tunisia vs. Japan (Monterrey Stadium)
June 25: Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Kansas City Stadium)
June 25: Japan vs. Sweden (Dallas Stadium)

NED vs JPN FIFA World Cup: Check out the groups

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: In the other match

Meanwhile in the Germany vs Curacao match, the World Cup debutants have shocked everyone after they equalized against Germany. Livano Comenencia has cancelled out Felix Nmecha's strike. If you want to follow that match, here's where you need to go.

Netherlands vs Japan FIFA World Cup Live: Predicted lineups

NED: Verbruggen (GK), van de Ven, van Dijk, van Hecke, Dumfries, Gravenberch, Reijnders, de Jong, Summerville, Malen, Gakpo

JPN: Suzuki (GK), Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Itakura, Doan, Endo, Tanaka, Nakamura, Kubo, Ueda, Ito.

Netherlands vs Japan Live: Hello and welcome

We are ready for Netherlands to take on giant killers Japan in an exciting Group F encounter. Netherlands is filled with experience while Japan have the reputation of defeating big teams in this tournament, having got the better of Germany and Spain in 2022. Does that same fate await the Dutch? We'll know in about 3 hrs time. Follow us to get all the updates.