Japan held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw despite losing three key attacking players to injury before the tournament.

What happened

Japan's national team drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas on Sunday. The team was depleted by injuries to Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), Takumi Minamino (fitness), and captain Wataru Endo (foot injury, followed by international retirement announcement), yet remained competitive over the first 45 minutes by defending tightly and launching multiple attacks.

Why it matters

For most teams, losing three integral players would trigger panic. Japan's ability to hold one of the world's best teams to a draw despite these absences suggests the squad has depth and tactical resilience to manage major injury setbacks without collapse.

What to watch

The result demonstrates Japan can remain competitive against top-tier opposition even when forced to field depleted rosters—a meaningful indicator of squad adaptability heading into future tournaments.