The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States has been a spectacle of surprises and thrilling matches, and the Japan vs. Netherlands game in Group F was no exception. The match in Arlington, Texas, showcased the beauty of the sport, with Japan's Daichi Kamada scoring an 88th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2, much to the delight of the Japanese bench. This game was a testament to the fact that the World Cup is indeed good, despite the talk of tired players, format failure, and empty seats.
The Dallas Stadium, with its vast concrete spaceship-like structure, provided a unique setting for the match. The base colours of warm royal blue and deep zingy classic orange were a feast for the eyes. The Netherlands, known for their irresistible mnemonic of sounds and colours, started the match with Donyell Malen in the centre of attack. Japan, on the other hand, set up with attacking midfielders in the wing-back spots and a back three, a note of evolution since Qatar.
The Netherlands took the ball away early on, but Japan had some neat, high pressing flurries. The game became a series of wary thrusts in between a steady holding pattern of carefully metered Dutch possession. With 34 minutes gone, Malen had another good chance, a close-in header direct from a corner that was batted away by Zion Suzuki. At that stage, the Dutch were on 67% possession, twice as many passes, and controlling the tempo and geometry of the game.
Japan had their best chance just before half-time, a nice little combination down the right flank leading to a cross and shot just wide from Keito Nakamura. Moments later, a beautifully weighted pass straight down the middle between the Dutch centre-backs put Ayase Ueda in for a shot into the side netting that had the blue-shirted parts of the stadium gasping and cooing with goal parallax error.
The Netherlands took the lead five minutes into the second half, with Virgil van Dijk steering in a header that trickled in off the far post. However, Japan responded immediately, with an injection of urgency on the left flank, and it was from there that they equalised seven minutes later, a really nice little fizzed combination of passes ending with Nakamura finding just enough space to whip a right-foot shot into the corner via a fine deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke.
Suddenly, the game had begun to throb with life, with avenues of space opening up at both ends. Crysencio Summerville made it 2-1 on 64 minutes, taking the ball from Ryan Gravenberch, gliding inside, and curling a lovely left-footed shot into the far corner. Japan responded as they had to the first goal, by forming a discussion circle in their own half even as the Dutch players were still celebrating, then surging forward again.
The end was high drama, with Group F looking wide open and designed for some kind of as-things-stand late drama. Dallas has now passed its first test as a soccer stadium, and for those who prefer their World Cup a little more sullen and sedate, England are here next. But for now, the World Cup continues to produce the unexpected, and that's what makes it so fascinating.
