Late Kamada header earns Japan 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Dallas

The result leaves the Dutch, who are three-time World Cup finalists, on one point from their opening match and needing a result against Sweden on Saturday to keep their bid to progress uncomplicated. Japan, who next face Tunisia, will take heart from a resilient display that saw them recover from a goal down on two occasions in a breathless 13-minute spell.

Donyell Malen, given the nod up front by coach Ronald Koeman over Memphis Depay, was denied as early as the third minute by Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, the first of several strong stops from the Japanese number one. Suzuki was only seriously tested once more before the break, palming away a Malen header from a corner in the 34th minute.

Van Dijk breaks the deadlock after the break

The pattern of the half was summed up by ORF expert Andreas Ivanschitz at the interval, who said: "Die Japaner sind kompakt. Das Passtempo muss höher werden. Das Spiel ist zu statisch. Aber ohne Tempowechsel, wird man die Japaner nicht knacken können." Keito Nakamura had gone close for Japan in the 43rd minute, and Ayase Ueda shot just wide in first-half stoppage time, but neither side could find a breakthrough before the break.

The deadlock was broken six minutes into the second period. Ryan Gravenberch, who plays alongside Van Dijk at Liverpool, lifted a cross from the right half-space that the Dutch captain met with a precise header, the ball going in off the far post. As one report put it, "Prompt fand Ryan Gravenberch den Kopf seines Liverpool-Klubkollegen." For the 34-year-old Van Dijk, it was his first ever goal at the finals of a major tournament.

Japan responded almost immediately. Takefusa Kubo carried the ball down the left and laid it back to Keito Nakamura, the former LASK striker, who fired a low, deflected shot from the edge of the box past Bart Verbruggen to make it 1-1 in the 57th minute. The equaliser silenced the large Dutch contingent that had travelled to Texas for the opening Group F fixture.

Summerville restores Dutch lead on debut

The lead changed hands for a second time in the 64th minute. Summerville, a World Cup debutant who had replaced the slightly injured Depay, curled a left-footed shot into the far corner from a similar area to his strike. Gravenberch was once again the architect, providing the assist for what was the 24-year-old's first international goal in only his third cap.

Summerville's goal, the third of the match, had come just seven minutes after Nakamura's leveller, and briefly appeared to settle the contest in the Dutch's favour. The summary in one report read: "Noch einmal 7 Zeigerumdrehungen später war die niederländische Führung wiederhergestellt." The hundreds of Dutch fans in attendance had reason to celebrate at that point.

However, the Japanese refused to fold. Suzuki kept his side in the match again in the 73rd minute, this time denying Cody Gakpo, and Gakpo was to miss another presentable opportunity to make it 3-1 with around a quarter of an hour remaining. Memphis Depay, introduced from the bench in the 70th minute, was shown a yellow card in the 83rd minute for a late challenge with his shoulder on Shogo Taniguchi.

Kamada's late deflection steals a point

The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute from a Japan corner. Substitute Koki Ogawa won the header, and the ball deflected off Daichi Kamada and past Verbruggen to send the Japanese bench and supporters into celebration. As one account described it: "Er lenkte einen Kopfball von Teamkollege Koki Ogawa unhaltbar für den niederländischen Goalie Bart Verbruggen zum späten Ausgleich ab."

It was a second equaliser of the evening for Hajime Moriyasu's side, who had earlier shown the kind of resilience that has marked their recent World Cup appearances. The squad, who are known for tidying their dressing room after matches at the tournament, had absorbed long spells of Dutch pressure and struck when it mattered most.

For the Netherlands, the result extends a long unbeaten run in World Cup group-stage matches but will feel like a missed opportunity given their double lead. The team have now gone 17 group games without defeat at a World Cup, but the late concession means the clash with Sweden in Houston on Saturday carries extra weight.

Dutch discipline a concern for Koeman

Discipline was an issue for the Dutch, with yellow cards shown to Summerville, Depay and Van de Ven. Japan, by contrast, received no bookings. Referee Elfath of the United States was the match official at the venue, which is hosting nine games during the tournament and is scheduled to stage the high-profile Austria versus Argentina fixture on 22 June.

Group F continues on Monday with Sweden facing Tunisia, while Japan will take on Tunisia the day after the Netherlands' meeting with Sweden. The two points shared in Dallas leave the group finely poised heading into the second round of fixtures.

What's next in Group F

Koeman had fielded an expected starting eleven, with Depay beginning on the bench because of a minor fitness issue and Summerville taking the opportunity presented to him. The Dutch coach will now have decisions to make over personnel ahead of the Sweden game, particularly in attack where his side created enough to have won the match.

The match was the first of nine fixtures scheduled at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium during the 2026 World Cup, and the near-70,000 attendance underlines the appetite for top-level football in the region. The tournament continues across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.