New Delhi: The Netherlands and Japan faced a 2-2 stalemate, sharing a point each early Monday in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With this, the Oranje remained undefeated within 90 minutes in a World Cup game for two decades.
The last time the Netherlands were beaten within 90 minutes at the World Cup was by Portugal in the Round of 16 in 2006. Germany hosted that tournament. The match, remembered as the “Battle of Nuremberg,” ended 1-0 in favour of Portugal and saw four red cards and 16 yellow cards. It still stands as the most discipline-challenged fixture in FIFA World Cup history.
Since then, the Netherlands has participated in four editions of the FIFA World Cup. And, it did not concede a defeat in any of the matches decided within 90 minutes. From 2010, 2014, 2022 and now 2026, the unbeaten run of the Netherlands includes 20 matches. During this period, the Dutch squad reached one final and one semifinal.
A trip down memory lane
In 2010, they came closest to lifting the trophy after losing 1-0 to Spain in the final. With Bert van Marwijk as the coach and players like Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, and Robin van Persie in the attack, the Netherlands won all six matches on their route to the final. They lost in the final in extra time after Andrés Iniesta scored in the 116th minute. The match is, however, recorded as a draw after 90 minutes.
Four years later in Brazil, Louis van Gaal’s side produced some of the tournament’s most iconic moments. They demolished defending champions Spain 5-1, with Van Persie’s flying header becoming one of the most talked-about goals in FIFA World Cup history. They remained unbeaten within the regulation time before losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout in the semifinal.
In the 2018 World Cup, however, they failed to qualify. The team made a strong bounce-back in 2022 in Qatar, in which they topped the group before losing to Argentina on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
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Netherlands 2026 campaign
In this year’s World Cup, the Netherlands kept their record intact. The first half against Japan went goalless. The second half, however, was eventful for both Japan and the Netherlands.
Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a well-placed header from a lofted cross, before Keito Nakamura drew Japan level in the 57th minute. The shot took a slight deflection on its way to the goal. Crysencio Summerville then restored the Netherlands’ lead in the 64th minute, cutting inside from the right edge of the box and curling a low drive with his left foot toward the far post that kissed the woodwork and went inside. Three goals in just 14 minutes!
However, Japan, Asia’s biggest hope in this year’s FIFA World Cup, refused to give up. Substitute Koki Ogawa jumped higher than Van Dijk to flick a header in the 88th minute, which went past the defence line before being deflected off Daichi Kamada and slammed into the net. A dramatic equaliser denied the Netherlands to walk away with all three points, with Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki grabbing eyeballs with seven crucial saves.