Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Goals: 1-0 van Dijk 51', 1-1 Nakamura 57', 2-1 Summerville 64', 2-2 Kamada 88'
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F opener at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas brought together two sides with genuine ambitions of progressing from the group. The Netherlands, ranked eighth in the world, were considered favourites against Japan, ranked 18th, but the Samurai Blue had qualified with an impressive record and arrived with several Bundesliga-based players in their ranks.
For the Dutch, Ronald Koeman named a side featuring Bundesliga alumni Micky van de Ven, Ryan Gravenberch and Donyell Malen from the off, while Japan's Hiroki Ito, Ritsu Dōan and Kaishu Sano all started.
