Daichi Kamada scored a late header in the 88th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw for Japan against the Netherlands in their World Cup opener on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The goal, delivered off a corner kick from Koki Ogawa, sparked celebration among the Japanese fans and ensured the Samurai Blue earned a valuable point against the highly ranked Dutch side.

The match’s first half was largely uneventful, but the second half unfolded rapidly with a three-goal flurry within 14 minutes. Virgil Van Dijk gave the Netherlands an early second-half lead in the 50th minute, directing a header inside the penalty area that found the back of the net for his 13th international goal. Japan responded swiftly when Keito Nakamura scored seven minutes later, firing a shot past Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen after receiving a pass from Takefusa Kubo.

Shortly after, Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands’ advantage with a left-footed shot that bounced off the far post and in, putting the Dutch ahead 2-1. Summerville’s goal came in the 64th minute and heightened the pressure on Japan, who appeared to be running out of time until Kamada’s decisive header equalized.

Verbruggen was unable to hold Kamada’s close-range attempt, which deflected slightly before crossing the goal line. The late goal extended the Netherlands' unbeaten streak in World Cup group play to 17 games, moving their overall World Cup group record to 21 wins, 2 draws, and 11 losses. Meanwhile, Japan, ranked 18th in the world, preserved their strong presence at the tournament and showcased resilience. Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu praised his team’s patience and tenacity, highlighting their calmness in finding and seizing opportunities during the match.

Elsewhere in World Cup action, Germany opened its campaign with a commanding 7-1 victory over Curaçao in Houston. Despite the Caribbean nation’s early equalizer, Germany pulled away with a series of goals, including a brace from Kai Havertz, marking a strong start for the four-time champions aiming to overcome recent consecutive group-stage exits.

In Philadelphia, Ivory Coast secured a 1-0 win over Ecuador thanks to a 90th-minute goal by substitute Amad Diallo. The Manchester United winger broke a tense deadlock after several crossbar hits from both sides, setting Ivory Coast on a hopeful path toward advancing past the group stage for the first time in recent tournaments. Ecuador’s 19-game unbeaten run was halted by the loss.

Sweden also recorded a convincing 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterey, Mexico. Yasin Ayari scored twice, while Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, and Mattias Svanberg also found the net as Sweden returned to the World Cup stage after missing the last tournament.

Sunday’s matches reflected competitive energy across multiple groups as several teams sought to build momentum in the early stages of the 2026 World Cup.