Daichi Kamada diverted in an 89th-minute equaliser for Japan as they twice levelled to share the spoils 2–2 with the Netherlands in the Group F opener of the FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium.
All four goals came in the second half, after an uninspired opening 45 minutes that offered little to write home about. Captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, powering home a header from a precise Ryan Gravenberch cross. Japan hit back swiftly, with Keito Nakamura’s strike from the edge of the box deflecting into the bottom corner in the 57th minute.
Crysencio Summerville, who only made his international debut earlier this month, looked to have won it for the Dutch when he curled the ball beautifully into the far corner with his left foot. But Japan refused to yield. Kamada’s unwitting headed goal in the 89th minute — deflecting in off a corner — joined Nakamura’s earlier effort in securing a hard-earned point for the Samurai Blue.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch set up both Dutch goals and showed a commanding box-to-box presence throughout the evening. But it was Japan’s resilience that defined the night.
“The stadium erupts,” one reporter noted, as Kamada’s goal sparked disbelief among the Dutch faithful.
The Netherlands are set to face Sweden in their next Group F fixture, while Japan prepare for a clash against Tunisia.
Sweden 5–1 Tunisia
Sweden opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a stunning 5–1 demolition of Tunisia, with two superb long-range efforts from Yasin Ayari sandwiching goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Mattias Svanberg.
Ayari struck first in the seventh minute, setting the tone for a dominant Swedish display. Isak added a second in the 30th minute, before Tunisia pulled one back through Omar Rekik just before the break, briefly giving the North Africans hope.
But any Tunisian revival was short-lived. The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri surrendered possession deep inside his own half. Isak reacted quickly, threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Gyökeres, who calmly finished to restore Sweden’s two-goal cushion.
Svanberg then came off the bench and scored within 16 seconds of entering the pitch — one of the fastest substitute goals in World Cup history. Ayari completed his outstanding evening with a brilliant long-range strike in stoppage time, sealing a commanding 5–1 win.
Graham Potter’s Sweden now lead Group F after Netherlands and Japan drew 2–2 earlier in the day.
Ivory Coast 1–0 Ecuador
Ivory Coast began their 2026 World Cup with a late 1–0 win over Ecuador, courtesy of a 90th-minute winner from substitute Amad Diallo. The Manchester United winger’s composed finish gave the Elephants their first World Cup victory in 12 years.
Ecuador were the dominant force in the first half, with John Yeboah and Alan Minda both striking the crossbar, but the game remained goalless at the break. Enner Valencia also rattled the woodwork early in the second half, as Ecuador’s frustration mounted with every passing minute.
Ivory Coast’s tactical changes gradually shifted the momentum, and Amad’s goal — a first-time finish from Wilfried Singo’s square pass — ended Ecuador’s 19-match unbeaten run in dramatic fashion.
Amad’s strike is the latest winning goal scored by a substitute in a 1–0 World Cup match since Francesco Totti’s 94th-minute penalty for Italy against Australia back in 2006.
Yan Diomande was Ivory Coast’s standout performer throughout, but it was Amad who delivered the defining moment.
Ecuador will next face Curaçao, while Ivory Coast brace themselves for a stern test against Germany.
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