The Japan national football team faced off against the strong Netherlands in their opener for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending in a 2-2 draw. The match took place at the Dallas Stadium in the USA, where Japan showed resilience by coming back twice after trailing. Historically, Japan had faced the Netherlands three times without a win, but this time they secured a valuable point. The first half ended scoreless, and the Netherlands took the lead in the second half. However, Japan quickly equalized, only to fall behind again. In the dying moments of the match, Japan scored a crucial equalizer. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu praised the players' tenacity and expressed eagerness for the next match. Japan's next game is against Tunisia, aiming for three points.