Japan and the Netherlands played to a 2-2 draw in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Japan, aiming for a strong showing in the tournament, conceded early but fought back to equalize. The Netherlands took the lead again, but Japan secured a late equalizer in the 43rd minute of the second half. This result places both teams in a challenging qualifying group, considered one of the toughest in the competition. The draw represents a positive start for Japan against a formidable opponent. The match took place as part of the North and Central America and Caribbean qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup.