Netherlands vs. Japan: Head-to-head record and past meetings before World Cup 2026 clash

By Jonathan O'Shea | 12 Jun 2026 18:25, Last updated: 15 Jun 2026 09:13

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 4

Draws: 2

Japan wins: 0

The Netherlands and Japan have met four times at senior international level, with every encounter taking place this century.

The most recent clash between the pair came on June 14, 2026, at the FIFA World Cup, where they played out a dramatic 2-2 draw after Ronald Koeman's men were pegged back twice.

In a contest where all four goals arrived after the break, Virgil van Dijk gave the Oranje the lead with a header in the 51st minute, only for Keito Nakamura to restore parity six minutes later.

The Netherlands edged back in front through a superb curling effort from Crysencio Summerville in the 64th minute, but just as Koeman's side appeared set to claim all three points, a corner deflected in off Daichi Kamada in the 89th minute to earn the Samurai Blue a share of the spoils in the Group F opener.

That said, the nations' first meeting ended in a comfortable victory for the Oranje, who scored three second-half goals through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie in a friendly played in September 2009.

A few months later, in South Africa, the stakes were much higher, as they convened again at the 2010 World Cup. On that occasion, Sneijder struck the only goal in Durban before his team went all the way to the final.

Nearly three years on, the pair were pitched together again as Japan finally scored their first goals versus the Dutch national side.

A pre-World Cup friendly fixture in neutral Genk produced an entertaining 2-2 draw, after Samurai Blue fought back from behind: Yuya Osako and Keisuke Honda replied once Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben had put the Netherlands in front.