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Japan Draws 2-2 with Netherlands, Kamada Scores Late

6/15/2026

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Summary

Kamada Secures Draw

Daichi Kamada headed a Koki Ogawa corner past Bart Verbruggen in the 88th minute, giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
Virgil van Dijk opened scoring with a header in the 50th minute for the Netherlands.
Keito Nakamura equalized for Japan in the 57th minute after Takefusa Kubo’s pass.
The draw left both sides with one point in Group F.

Summary

Moriyasu Counters Loss

FanDuel listed odds of +105 for the Netherlands, +270 for Japan and +250 for a draw for June 14, 2026 Group F opener.
The Netherlands qualified for 2026 by winning UEFA Group G unbeaten with 20 points and a 4-0 win over Lithuania.
Japan entered the match without Kaoru Mitoma and captain Wataru Endo, who retired from the Asian team after injury.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu said the squad’s mental resilience offsets Endo’s loss and targets a quarter-final.

History

Historical Context

On 11 July 2010, Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in Johannesburg, earning Spain its first World Cup title and becoming the first European champion to win outside Europe. The Dutch reached the final after beating Brazil and Uruguay in a tournament that was World Cup hosted in Africa, a milestone that shapes expectations for Japan’s 2026 group clash with the Netherlands.

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Kamada Secures Draw

Daichi Kamada headed a Koki Ogawa corner past Bart Verbruggen in the 88th minute, giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
Virgil van Dijk opened scoring with a header in the 50th minute for the Netherlands.
Keito Nakamura equalized for Japan in the 57th minute after Takefusa Kubo’s pass.
The draw left both sides with one point in Group F.

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