Netherlands vs Japan

The Netherlands and Japan served up a breathless Group F opener at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, drawing 2-2 in a match that will be remembered for Daichi Kamada's 89th-minute equalizer snatched from a corner, denying the Dutch all three points. Virgil van Dijk headed home from a Ryan Gravenberch cross in the 51st minute to open the scoring, but Japan hit back almost immediately through Keito Nakamura, whose strike from outside the box deflected off Jan Paul van Hecke and wrong-footed goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Crysencio Summerville restored the Dutch advantage with a curling finish in the 64th minute — only for Kamada to nod home from close range in the closing seconds. The result leaves both teams level on one point in Group F. The Netherlands, who entered as clear favorites, will feel two points slipped away, while Japan — fighting back twice from a losing position — take huge confidence from their composure and resolve.