Netherlands and Japan shared the spoils in their Group F encounter at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Sunday to kick-start FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns.
Virgil Van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored for the Dutchmen before Keito Nakamura and Koki Ogawa pegged Japan back on level terms.
Dutch skipper Van Dijk broke the deadlock after 51 minutes of play, but Oranje were pulled back shortly after by Nakamura, who finished off a patient Japanese passage of play which saw the Asian unit recycle the ball to carve out an opening before pouncing to surprise Bart Verbruggen.
Summerville did exceptionally well to cap off a silky sequence of play from the Dutchmen as he curled the ball into the net off the woodwork to help Ronald Koeman’s unit reclaim
the lead.
Netherlands sought to see the game out, but Japan ensured they’d make a game of it with a valiant push in the final knockings of the game and were rewarded for their work ethic and organisation as Ogawa ensured the Blue Samurai wouldn’t finish their opener empty-handed.
Earlier in the day, Germany began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 7-1 win over debutants Curacao in their Group E match at Houston Stadium.
Felix Nmecha opened the scoring for Germany after a move led by their young core, before Livano Comenensia netted Curacao’s first-ever World Cup goal to briefly level the match. Nico Schlotterbeck restored Germany’s lead with a header from a right-sided corner, and Kai Havertz made it 3-1 before half-time by converting a penalty.
Jamal Musiala extended the advantage early in the second half with a precise finish into the side netting. Nathaniel Brown added another from close range, and substitute Denis Undav made it six. Havertz then completed his brace by running onto a through ball and finishing past the onrushing goalkeeper, sealing Germany’s emphatic victory.
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