ARLINGTON (Sports Desk) Japan produced a spirited late comeback to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F opener, while Sweden delivered a dominant 5-1 victory over Tunisia in another group-stage clash on Sunday.
In a high-intensity encounter at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Japan showed resilience and composure to recover from twice falling behind against a strong Dutch side. The result reflected a determined performance by Hajime Moriyasu’s team, who refused to surrender despite early setbacks and the absence of influential midfielder Wataru Endo due to injury.
The Netherlands took the lead in the second half when captain Virgil van Dijk headed home following a well-delivered cross, putting Ronald Koeman’s side in control. However, Japan responded quickly as Keito Nakamura restored parity with a deflected finish after a sharp attacking move.
The Dutch regained the advantage shortly after through Crysencio Summerville, who curled a precise strike beyond the Japanese goalkeeper to make it 2-1. Despite trailing again, Japan continued to press forward and were rewarded in the closing minutes when Daichi Kamada’s effort found the net via a deflection, sealing a hard-earned draw.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu praised his players for their unity and discipline under pressure, noting that the team remained composed despite unexpected challenges during the match. He said the squad had shown strong collective spirit and tactical awareness throughout the contest.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman expressed disappointment at his side’s failure to maintain their lead on two occasions, although he acknowledged Japan’s resilience and quality.
Meanwhile, in another Group F fixture, Sweden produced a commanding performance to defeat Tunisia 5-1. Sweden struck early through a seventh-minute goal and maintained control throughout the match, adding four more goals in the second half to seal a comprehensive victory.
Tunisia managed to score once in the first half, but they were unable to contain Sweden’s attacking pressure after the break as the European side dominated possession and finishing.
The results leave Group F finely balanced early in the tournament, with Japan and the Netherlands sharing points after a thrilling draw, while Sweden’s emphatic win places them in a strong position going forward.
