Netherlands vs Japan LIVE
Japan hit back twice to start their World Cup campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The Dutch were denied a victory in their the World Cup Group F opener when Koki Ogawa’s 88th-minute header took a deflection off Daichi Kamada before going in at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
After a drab first half where chances were few and far between, the came to life when an unmarked Virgil van Dijk headed home in the 51st minute from Liverpool team-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s cross. Netherlands’ lead lasted just six minutes as Takefusa Kubo passed to Keito Nakamura, who drifted outside the area before rifling low into the net via a ricochet from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Ronald Koeman’s side went ahead again in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville cut in from the right on to his weaker left foot, ignoring the overlapping Denzel Dumfries, and firing excellently beyond Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and in off the post.
Netherlands vs Japan latest updates
- GOAL! Ogawa levels at death
- GOAL! Summerville slams in second
- GOAL! Nakamura equalises
- GOAL! Van Dijk opens scoring
- GOOD SAVE! Malen denied
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
23:07 , Oli Gent
Some second half, that.
Proper World Cup football.
Read the full match report here!
FT: Netherlands 2-2 Japan
22:55 , Oli Gent
There we have it. A dull first half, a superb second with plentiful entertainment.
A fair result, you’d say.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE World Cup action.
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
22:52 , Oli Gent
90+3 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time to play. Can either side find a winner?
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
22:50 , Oli Gent
90+1 min: The goal has gone down as Kamada’s, with the ball deflecting off the Crystal Palace man. Six added minutes.
Goal! Netherlands 2-2 Japan
22:48 , Oli Gent
90 mins: It’s there, and Japan are level right at the death! The corner is clipped in, and the substitute Ogawa nods home, with the effort too powerful for Verbruggen to keep out!
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:47 , Oli Gent
89 mins: A studied pass for Ito down the right, but Dumfries gets across to defend it well. Corner, Japan.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:44 , Oli Gent
87 mins: Gakpo is replaced by Brobbey.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:43 , Oli Gent
85 mins: Memphis is booked for a cynical foul while Japan make a sub, Shiogai is on for Ueda.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:40 , Oli Gent
83 mins: Gravenberch is replaced by Nathan Ake. A back five for the Dutch.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:39 , Oli Gent
80 mins: What a chance! Ito does really well down the right and plays it in for Sugawara who has found space in the box, but he can’t generate any power in the finish, and that’s easy for Verbruggen!
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:34 , Oli Gent
76 mins: Doan, Watanbe and Kubo are off for the Japanese, with Sugawara, Tomiyasu and Ogawa all on.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:33 , Oli Gent
75 mins: Doan escapes down the right for Japan and looks to squeeze in a cutback, but Van de Ven is across really well. Corner.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:30 , Oli Gent
72 mins: Three changes for the Netherlands. Reijnders, Malen and Summerville are sacrificed, with Memphis, Timber and Koopmeiners all off the bench.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:28 , Oli Gent
69 mins: The second-half hydration break as Maeda is replaced by Ito.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:26 , Oli Gent
68 mins: Close! Kubo picks it up and drives dangerously at the heart of the Dutch defence. He lets it fly from 30 yards, and it whistles over the bar!
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:25 , Oli Gent
67 mins: There are the flashes of quality I was talking about. Finally, we have some entertainment.
Goal! Netherlands 2-1 Japan
22:23 , Oli Gent
64 mins: The Dutch are back in front, and that is sublime from Summerville! The winger, a newcomer to the international scene, announces himself on the world stage after great feet from Gravenberch, before the forward whips it into the far corner.
Netherlands 1-1 Japan
22:20 , Oli Gent
61 mins: The first booking of the game as Summerville takes out Nakamura.
Goal! Netherlands 1-1 Japan
22:17 , Oli Gent
58 mins: They’ve found the equaliser, and what a strike it is! That is superb turn and finish from Nakamura, who swivels and hits one inside Verbruggen’s near post!
Netherlands 1-0 Japan
22:15 , Oli Gent
55 mins: An important moment in the game, which will force Japan out of their shells now. Can they find a leveller, or can the Dutch double their advantage?
Goal! Netherlands 1-0 Japan
22:10 , Oli Gent
51 mins: It’s there, and the Dutch do have the lead. It’s not pretty, but it’s Van Dijk who rises highest to nod home. The Reijnders free kick is a poor one, but the cross from Gravenberch is sumptuous, as the skipper heads down into the ground for the opener.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
22:06 , Oli Gent
49 mins: This has been a game lacking in real individual quality so far. Sano sums this one up by running the ball straight out of play. Nice.
Kick off!
22:04 , Oli Gent
46 mins: Back underway.
HT: Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:48 , Oli Gent
Goalless at the interval.
Two well-matched sides, cancelling each other out.
What will the second half have in store?
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:46 , Oli Gent
45 mins: Three added minutes.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:44 , Oli Gent
43 mins: Close! That is the clearest sight of goal that Japan have enjoyed. The cross falls to Nakamura at the far post as Summerville misjudges the flight of the ball. He takes it down and strikes, but he hits it wide!
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:40 , Oli Gent
40 mins: Dumfries is showing a bit more ambition down the right, and he looks to cross, but Nakamura stands in his way.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:37 , Oli Gent
37 mins: Close! Reijnders’ set plays have been on the money in this half, as he knocks a free kick up to Dumfries at the back post. The right-back knocks it down and Gakpo tries to latch onto it on the stretch, but he fires over.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:35 , Oli Gent
35 mins: Good save! Reijnders delivers an outswinger, and Malen makes the first contact, which Suzuki spills, but no-one is there to gobble up the rebound!
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:34 , Oli Gent
34 mins: Malen wins the ball well in midfield and darts down the right. Tanguchi is across to stop him, but concedes the corner.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:31 , Oli Gent
31 mins: Over half an hour played but still no closer to an opener. Gakpo looks for Dumfries at the far post, but the right-back can only nod over the top.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:27 , Oli Gent
27 mins: Play back underway and a period of possession for Japan now. Can they piece together a golden opportunity to take the lead?
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:23 , Oli Gent
23 mins: The first cooling break of the evening and it gives the two sides time to reflect on a cagey opening quarter. Malen’s early effort is the only real chance that either have had to break the deadlock. Can they find that elusive opener before the break?
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:20 , Oli Gent
20 mins: De Jong is getting on the ball more now and looking to orchestrate moves as the Dutch come forward. He’s spraying it left and right, while looking to play penetrating passes between the lines into Reijnders and the wide men in the pockets.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:17 , Oli Gent
17 mins: Dumfries hustles down the right, going round the outside of Summerville. Nakamura tracks him all the way, and the Dutch are forced to shuffle play the other way.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:14 , Oli Gent
14 mins: Maeda stretches the Dutch backline and stands up Dumfries down the left. He looks to cross, and wins the corner.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:12 , Oli Gent
11 mins: Nakamura turns over possession and spins it out for Doan wide right. He advances but is forced to check back, and Japan bring it forward. Maeda fights for it in the left channel, but Van Hecke stands his ground well.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:08 , Oli Gent
8 mins: The Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is here today, among the swathe of celebrities in attendance.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:05 , Oli Gent
5 mins: Reijnders’ follow-up corner is whipped into the near post, but cleared with ease.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:04 , Oli Gent
4 mins: Good save! A first sighting of goal for the Netherlands as Malen crashes a shot towards goal, and Suzuki is forced into a fine stop to deny him and turn it behind. Corner.
Netherlands 0-0 Japan
21:02 , Oli Gent
3 mins: Some early tactical observations for you. Already, you can see Van de Ven tucking in as an auxiliary centre-back from his left full-back berth. Dumfries is almost a right wing-back with how far advanced he is in possession.
Kick off!
21:00 , Oli Gent
1 min: Underway in Texas.
Five minute warning
20:55 , Oli Gent
The players are on their way out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minutes to kick off!
20:50 , Oli Gent
Who will win this one?
Team lineups
20:45 , Oli Gent
Here are the two starting XIs once more for those that missed them:
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Malen
Japan: Suzuki; Watanbe, Tanguchi, Ito; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Kubo, Ueda, Maeda
Stadium in pictures
20:37 , Oli Gent
The AT&T Stadium is beginning to fill up!
Interesting!
20:32 , Oli Gent
0/2 - The Netherlands are starting a World Cup match without a player from the Dutch Eredivisie for the first time ever, while opponents Japan are fielding two players from the Dutch league in their starting XI. (Un)familiar. pic.twitter.com/33XqnwSA86
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 14, 2026
Germany thrash Curacao
20:25 , Oli Gent
Well, that was a bit harsh lads...
Top stat
20:17 , Oli Gent
The Netherlands have NEVER lost their opening Group Stage game at a World Cup... 🤯
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 14, 2026
Predictions? https://t.co/x7OI3PeivH
Japan XI analysed
20:10 , Oli Gent
As for Moriyasu’s men...
Some surprises, but a 3-4-3 shape as you’d think.
Expect a box in midfield, with Maeda and Kubo drifting inside to try and create a numerical overload in the engine room against the Dutch’s trio.
In possession, Kubo will look to use his pace to get in behind, but he will be well matched by Van de Ven.
Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu only makes the bench, while star forward Kaoru Mitoma, the Brighton winger, has been ruled out of the tournament with injury.
Netherlands XI analysed
20:04 , Oli Gent
As expected from Koeman.
No risks taken with Memphis Depay up front, so it’s the in-form Malen who leads the line, having hit 14 goals in 18 games for Roma since his move from Aston Villa.
Micky van de Ven continues out of position at left-back to accommodate Jan Paul van Hecke, who could join him at Tottenham next year.
Denzel Dumfries, set for Real Madrid, will have plenty of licence to bomb on down the right, so Van de Ven will slide across to create a back three in possession.
Summerville will hold the width on the right flank, so expect plenty of underlaps and back-post runs from Dumfries beyond him.
Japan lineup
19:51 , Oli Gent
Japan XI: Suzuki; Watanbe, Tanguchi, Ito; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Kubo, Ueda, Maeda
Subs: Osako, Sawakawa, Sugawara, Itakura, Nagatomo, Machino, Tanaka, Goto, Ito, Suzuki, Ogawa, Tomiyasu, Suzuki, Shiota
Netherlands lineup
19:48 , Oli Gent
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Malen
Subs: Flekken, Roefs, Ake, Brobbey, Geertruida, Hato, Kluivert, Koopmeiners, Lang, Memphis, De Roon, Til, Timber, Weghorst, Wieffer
Team news in 10...
19:38 , Oli Gent
We had a go at predicted Koeman’s first lineup of this tournament.
How do you think we did?
All results and fixtures so far
19:30 , Oli Gent
Need somewhere to see all of the World Cup’s fixtures and results so far?
Look no further. We’ve got you sorted.
Netherlands takeover
19:22 , Oli Gent
The Dutch have taken over Dallas!
DALLAS = ORANJE! 🧡🫨#NothingLikeOranje #FIFAWorldCup #NEDJPN pic.twitter.com/aOTk88cwNu
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 14, 2026
Also today!
19:15 , Oli Gent
Germany are playing Curacao in their opening group game today.
How are the 2014 winners getting on?
Head to head
19:07 , Oli Gent
It has been 13 years since these two nations last met. Their most recent clash came in a friendly in Genk and ended 2-2. Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben gave the Dutch a two-goal lead but they were pegged back by Yuya Osako and Keisuke Honda.
Netherlands wins: 2
Japan wins: 0
Draws: 1
Standard Sport prediction
19:00 , Oli Gent
If the Netherlands’ warm-up campaign is anything to go by, their prospects for the World Cup are not brilliant. Edging past Uzbekistan with 10 men and losing to Algeria will not have done much to inspire many fans back home.
Japan, meanwhile, are nothing if not inspired. This is a well-drilled, well-rounded squad which got the better of England at Wembley in March, and can genuinely dream of a serious run.
We back them to get the ball rolling in style.
Japan to win, 2-0.
Japan team news
18:52 , Oli Gent
This Japan squad has been hailed as one of the nation’s strongest ever, and for good reason. Kamada will run the show after playing a pivotal role in two of Crystal Palace’s best-ever seasons, while Maeda will be important after enjoying a stellar campaign for Celtic.
Captain Wataru Endo missed much of the second half of Liverpool’s season with a serious ankle injury and has not made it back in time, pulling out of the squad and retiring from international football in a shock move on the eve of the tournament.
Ajax’s Ko Itakura is the new skipper, with Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino replacing Endo in the squad.
Ao Tanaka had something of a breakout campaign at Leeds, pulling the strings for Daniel Farke’s side. Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda found the back of the net 25 times in 31 league appearances and scored more headed goals than any other player in Europe.
Japan squad: Tomoki Hayakawa, Keisuke Osako, Zion Suzuki, Yuto Nagatomo, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junosuke Suzuki, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Koki Ogawa, Daizen Maeda, Ritsu Doan, Ao Tanaka, Kaishu Sano, Takefusa Kubo, Ayase Ueda, Keito Nakamura, Ito Suzuki, Kento Shiode, Keisuke Goto, Shuto Machino
Netherlands team news
18:45 , Oli Gent
Koeman’s squad was rocked in the build-up to the tournament by the withdrawal of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, who has failed to recover from the groin injury which saw him sidelined for much of the title run-in. Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida was called up in his place.
A Liverpool-heavy core will dictate this team. Ryan Gravenberch is due to play a key role alongside Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo. All-time top scorer Memphis Depay and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen have both been passed fit after injury.
Netherlands squad: Mark Flekken, Robin Roefs, Bart Verbruggen, Nathan Ake, Sven Botman, Denzel Dumfries, Jorrel Hato, Lutsharel Geertruida, Micky van de Ven, Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mats Wieffer, Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon, Ryan Gravenberch, Justin Kluivert, Teun Koopmeiners, Tijjani Reijnders, Guus Til, Quinten Timber, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Noa Lang, Donyell Malen, Crysencio Summerville, Wout Weghorst
How to watch
18:37 , Oli Gent
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 8.15pm BST. Coverage will immediately follow the Group E meeting between Germany and Curacao, which will be broadcast on the same channel.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live and for free online via the ITVX app or ITV website.
Hello and welcome!
18:30 , Oli Gent
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Netherlands’ World Cup opener against Japan.
Ronald Koeman’s men face a side heavily-fancied by many as dark horses this summer.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off from Arlington, Texas at 9pm BST.
