Japan extend remarkable unbeaten run against European nations

Japan

After stunning the Netherlands with a late equaliser, the Samurai Blue’s dominant record against Europe continues to grow.

Japan’s draw with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup extended one of international football’s most formidable streaks – the Samurai Blue are now unbeaten in ten consecutive matches against European opposition, with eight wins and two draws, since a 3-2 friendly defeat to Belgium in November 2019.

The results in that run read like a who’s who of European football. Germany have fallen to Japan twice – 2-1 at Qatar 2022 and 4-1 in a post-tournament friendly.

Spain were beaten 2-1 at the same World Cup. Scotland and England have both been defeated in 2026 warm-up friendlies, the latter making Japan the first Asian nation ever to beat the Three Lions.

In Arlington, Japan twice came from behind. Virgil van Dijk put the Dutch ahead with a fine header before Keito Nakamura levelled.

West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands’ lead just after the hour with a sumptuous curled finish on his senior international debut, only for Daichi Kamada’s deflected 89th-minute strike to earn Japan a point.

The only blemish in the run came against Croatia at Qatar 2022, where Japan were eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 draw – but that result stands as a draw in regulation, leaving the European defeat column untouched since 2019.

Now they face Sweden in their second Group F match, where they can extend the streak to 11.

Read more: Soccermag

Picture: X/@J_League_En

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