Asian powerhouse Japan went toe-to-toe with a strong Dutch side to draw their first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday courtesy of a brilliant last-minute equaliser.

Many experts and football fans described the match as one of the best of the tournament so far, as both sides played their hearts out in what appeared to be heading towards a clear win for the Dutch.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw at full time.

While Japan celebrated the hard-earned point, the Netherlands felt the disappointment of dropping two points.

The first goal of the game came in the second half when Virgil van Dijk glanced a header into the far corner. Japan quickly fired back just six minutes later to level the score.

The Netherlands then took the lead again with Crysencio Summerville whipping an excellent shot into the far corner and looked set for victory until Daichi Kamada scored a dramatic late equaliser for Japan.

This Group F clash quickly gained attention from football pundits and former stars, who described the encounter as one of the best group stage games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It is worth noting that the Netherlands is ranked 8th while Japan is ranked 18th in the latest FIFA rankings.

There have been several excellent performances in this World Cup, but for flow, tension, and level of execution, Japan’s late equaliser ensured this was the best match of the World Cup so far.

Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Australia defeat Turkey 2-0