Japan snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their Group E opener in Dallas, with Daichi Kamada scoring a devastating 89th-minute equaliser just moments after Crysencio Summerville had restored the Dutch lead.
Virgil van Dijk had broken the deadlock after the break, powering home the opening goal for the Netherlands. But Japan hit back within minutes through Keito Nakamura, setting up a tense finale. Summerville thought he had won it for the Oranje, only for Kamada to strike late and share the spoils.
“Daichi Kamada scored an 89th-minute equaliser as Japan held the Netherlands 2-2 in their World Cup Group E opener.”
The result was one of several surprises on a dramatic day at the 2026 World Cup. Earlier, Germany thrashed tournament debutants Curacao 7-1, with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scoring twice as Julian Nagelsmann’s side made an emphatic statement in Group E. Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by AFCON champions Morocco in New York, a star-studded affair attended by American icons Tom Brady and Travis Scott. Scotland ended their three-decade wait for a World Cup win by beating Haiti 1-0, while Australia claimed a 2-0 victory over Turkey.
Elsewhere, FIFA announced it will pay the full World Cup tournament fee to Somalian referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate. Artan was turned away by US border forces after an 11-hour interview, and will not officiate any matches, but FIFA confirmed he will still be paid, with the exact fee to be determined after the tournament concludes.