FIFA World Cup

NED Netherlands Netherlands - JPN Japan Japan

Netherlands Netherlands

Japan Japan

Dallas Stadium(69,285 Spectators)

Ismail Elfath

Full-time: Netherlands 2-2 Japan

It was a game of two halves in this group F opener, as all four goals came in the second 45 following a quiet opening half. The Dutch will be disappointed having surrendered a lead twice and ultimately missing out on two more points, while Japan can be pleased with their ability to get a point from a game where clear chances were at a premium for them.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Six more minutes

Can Japan build on their momentum and find a winner?

90'

+ 1

Yellow card

Micky van de Ven

There it is, Japan equalise!

Junya Ito's out-swinging corner finds the head of Ogawa, whose header goalwards flicks off Kamada and then Verbruggen's hands before finding the back of the net.

89'

Daichi Kamada

GOAL!

2:2

Assist:K. Ogawa

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

18 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

7.37 m

88'

All Japan

They're maintaining possession in the Dutch half but are struggling to find an opening.

85'

Rescue mission

Japan throw on another forward in Shiogai as they search for a late equaliser.

85'

Substitution

Brian Brobbey

Cody Gakpo

84'

Substitution

Kento Shiogai

Ayase Ueda

83'

Yellow card

Memphis Depay

81'

Substitution

Nathan Aké

Ryan Gravenberch

80'

Off balance

The ball falls to Sugawara inside the area but he falls back as he shoots and his effort floats into Verbruggen's hands.

78'

Still all to play for

The game could yet swing back in Japan's favour.

75'

Substitution

Kōki Ogawa

Takefusa Kubo

75'

Substitution

Yukinari Sugawara

Ritsu Dōan

75'

Substitution

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Tsuyoshi Watanabe

73'

Suzuki gets down well

Gakpo cuts in from the left onto his right foot before aiming for the near corner of the Japan goal, but Suzuki is equal to his sneaky attempt.

70'

Substitution

Quinten Timber

Tijjani Reijnders

70'

Substitution

Teun Koopmeiners

Crysencio Summerville

70'

Substitution

Memphis Depay

Donyell Malen

68'

Brilliant effort!

Kubo hits one from distance which has Verbruggen at full stretch, but flies narrowly over the bar.

66'

Substitution

Junya Ito

Daizen Maeda

Netherlands re-take the lead!

Summerville receives the ball on the right-hand edge of the box after good work from Gravenberch, cuts inside and bends his finish into the far bottom corner.

64'

Crysencio Summerville

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:R. Gravenberch

Goal probability

3 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

20.75 m

61'

Yellow card

Crysencio Summerville

61'

Clinical!

That was Japan's first attempt on target.

Goal attempts

2off target

4on target

3off target

1on target

Japan respond, 1-1!

Nakamura tries his luck from just outside the area and sees his low shot find the near corner via a slight deflection.

57'

Keito Nakamura

GOAL!

1:1

Assist:T. Kubo

Goal probability

6 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

19.86 m

54'

Deserved lead

The Dutch took their strong end to the first half into the second and have the game's first goal.

Goal attempts

2off target

4on target

3off target

0on target

There's the opener!

Gravenberch swings in an exquisite cross from the right, which finds the head of van Dijk who heads it back across goal into the bottom corner.

51'

Virgil van Dijk

GOAL!

1:0

Assist:R. Gravenberch

Goal probability

7 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11.4 m

48'

And again

This time Gravenberch flashes a ball across goal, but again it fails to find a teammate.

47'

Instant threat

Summerville bursts down the right before firing in a dangerous cross but can't find an orange shirt with his delivery.

46'

Back for more!

Japan get the second half underway.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Netherlands 0-0 Japan

It's been a half of few chances despite the attacking intentions of both sides. Japan started brightly before the Dutch gained control of the half, with Malen's turn and shot being their clearest chance. Japan did come back into the game, but could only create a couple of half chances.

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Another opening

Ueda peels away into the right-hand side of the box before slamming his effort into the side netting.

44'

Japan go close!

A deep cross finds Nakamura at the far side of the box where he tries to find the near corner with a volley and narrowly misses the target.

41'

Driving seat

The Dutch are controlling these closing stages of the half, with Japan penned in their defensive third.

37'

Scooped over

Gakpo stretches to reach a loose ball in the area but can't keep his effort down and hits it comfortably over.

35'

Suzuki saves

Malen heads goalward from a corner but it's straight at the 'keeper.

34'

Few and far between

It's been a shot-shy game so far.

Goal attempts

0off target

1on target

1off target

0on target

Toe-to-toe

It's been an even first half hour between these two sides.

29'

Sails over

Maeda lays it off to Nakamura on the edge of the area but he can't get a shot away. He lays the ball off to Ito, whose shot goes well over the bar.

27'

Back at it

Play resumes after the first hydration break.

23'

Cancelling out

Both sides have been positive on the ball so far but have struggled to create clear-cut chances.

20'

Almost

Malen tries to buy himself a yard of space inside the box but takes one touch too many and the Japanese defence manage to clear.

15'

Maeda denied

He makes a clever front post run to meet Taniguchi's cross, but van Hecke matches his run and blocks the effort.

14'

Closing in

Japan's influence is growing.

Passes

13'

Probing

Japan continue to try and thread passes through the Dutch backline, but have so far been met by a stubborn defence.

Straight into it

Both sides have shown their attacking intent in these opening exchanges.

Warming up

Japan are now enjoying a spell of possession of their own.

Great save!

Malen turns and shoots inside the box, stinging the fingertips of Suzuki who pushes the ball over.

Taking control

After an energetic start from both sides Netherlands have taken control of possession.

Off we go!

Netherlands get the ball rolling.

Kick-off!

Almost there!

Kick-off is drawing closer.

Waiting in the wings

Japan's players get a feel for their surroundings.

Raring to go

The Netherlands squad check out tonight's pitch.

Advantage Netherlands?

They're unbeaten in their last three games against Japan (two wins, one draw) but the last meeting between these two came in 2013, when they drew 2-2 in a friendly.

Bundesliga trio start

Eintracht Frankfurt's Ritsu Dōan (pictured), Bayern Munich's Hiroki Ito and Mainz's Kaishu Sano all start for Japan.

Starting line-up: Netherlands

Netherlands subs

Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, Aké, Wieffer, Hato, de Roon, Kluivert, Til, Koopmeiners, Timber, Weghorst, Depay, Lang, Brobbey

Starting line-up: Japan

Japan subs

Osako, Hayakawa, Sugawara, Itakura, Nagatomo, Seko, Tomiyasu, J. Suzuki, Tanaka, Ito, Y. Suzuki, Machino, Gotō , Ogawa, Shiogai

How they got here: The Netherlands

Ronald Koeman's side scored 27 goals and conceded just four as the Netherlands came through their qualifying group unscathed, winning six of their eight games, and drawing two - both 1-1 draws against Poland.

How they got here: Japan

Japan were the first nation to qualify for this summer's World Cup. The Samurai Blue recorded six straight victories in the second round of qualification and finished above both Australia and Saudi Arabia in the third round to book their place at the finals.

Japan's Bundesliga contingent

Several players plying their trade in Germany have been selected by Hajime Moriyasu. Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg) were named in Japan's initial 26-man squad, while Shuto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach) replaced Wataru Endo, who misses the tournament through injury. Freiburg's new signing, Keisuke Gotō, also makes the squad.

Welcome!

Follow all the action and live build-up from the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F clash between the Netherlands and Japan at Dallas Stadium, USA, on Sunday 14 June (kick-off 10pm CEST).