Japan and the Netherlands drew 2-2 in a thrilling opening match of Group E at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Netherlands took the lead twice, with goals from Virgil van Dijk in the 51st minute and Crescencio Summerville in the 64th. However, Japan responded both times, equalizing through goals from Kaito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada. The draw secures a valuable point for Japan in their campaign. The match, played on Sunday evening, marked the start of competition in Group E. This result highlights Japan’s continued strong performance in opening World Cup fixtures.