Captain Lindsey Horan came to the rescue of defending champions the United States after the Netherlands had threatened an upset at the Women's World Cup.
New Manchester City signing Jill Roord put the Dutch on course for a famous win after a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
The Stars and Stripes have been a superpower on the world stage, winning their previous 13 matches spanning three tournaments, but they struggled to breakdown a resolute Netherlands defence until Horan equalised with a header from a corner.
In a repeat of the 2019 final - which the USA won 2-0 in Lyon - Savannah DeMelo fired wide when the game was goalless while Trinity Rodman forced Daphne van Domselaar into a fingertip save moments after the Dutch had taken the lead.
It looked like being a bitterly frustrating day for the USA when Julie Ertz had a header deflected behind before Horan equalised.
The United States stay top of Group E with four points from two games - the same number as the Netherlands who trail on goal difference.
The USA face Portugal next at Eden Park, Auckland, on Tuesday (08:00 BST) while the Netherlands play Vietnam in Dunedin at the same time.
Portugal and Vietnam, who are both yet to record a point, play their second group game later in Hamilton (08:30 BST).
Netherlands show they mean business
Dutch and American supporters were out in force in WellingtonBoth sets of fans applauded their teams off the pitch at full-time after an entertaining affair in front of 27,312 fans.
Wellington was awash with colour hours before the lunchtime kick-off local time as fans took to the streets of New Zealand's capital city early.
There was a carnival atmosphere inside the fan park with some supporters dressed top to toe in stars and stripes. Others from the Netherlands arrived at the ground in national costume.
One supporter inside the ground held up a sign saying: "They're not just women, they're legends".
Helicopters buzzed above the city from early morning adding to the sense of occasion, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was on official business in the city, broke off from talks to cheer on the defending champions.
Billed as the biggest fixture of the 48 group games taking place in Australia and New Zealand, it did not disappoint.
The United States, who also defeated the Netherlands at the Olympics in 2021, are strongly tipped to win a fifth World Cup despite 14 of their players appearing at their first World Cup.
But Andries Jonker's side produced a thoroughly impressive performance and looked set to send out a powerful message until Horan's equaliser.
The Netherlands had required a 93rd-minute winner in their final qualifying game against Iceland just to make this World Cup.
Yet despite being denied the services of influential forward Vivianne Miedema due to injury, the 2019 runners-up once again look as though they could go deep in this tournament.
USA guilty of wastefulness
Lindsey Horan's goal was all the United States had to show for the opportunities they createdThe United States are yet to fire on full cylinders at this World Cup.
Vlatko Andonovski's side were guilty of wasting a hatful of chances in their 3-0 win over debutants Vietnam, while against the Dutch they once again created enough opportunities to have taken maximum points.
There was frustration when Alex Morgan, who had a penalty saved against Vietnam, thought she had scored the winner after poking Trinity Rodman's pass into the net.
However, it was ruled out for offside while Rodman dragged a great chance wide in the closing stages.
Andonovski will expect his players to be firing when they return to Auckland next week to face Portugal in the third and final group game.
Player of the match
van de DonkDaniëlle van de Donk
USA
Squad number16Player nameLavelle
Squad number10Player nameHoran
Squad number1Player nameNaeher
Squad number19Player nameDunn
Squad number20Player nameRodman
Squad number13Player nameMorgan
Squad number11Player nameSmith
Squad number8Player nameErtz
Squad number4Player nameGirma
Squad number23Player nameFox
Squad number17Player nameSullivan
Squad number9Player nameDeMelo
Netherlands
Squad number10Player namevan de Donk
Squad number6Player nameRoord
Squad number1Player namevan Domselaar
Squad number11Player nameMartens
Squad number17Player namePelova
Squad number14Player nameGroenen
Squad number3Player namevan der Gragt
Squad number8Player nameSpitse
Squad number20Player nameJanssen
Squad number22Player nameBrugts
Squad number4Player nameNouwen
Squad number18Player nameCasparij
Squad number9Player nameSnoeijs
Squad number13Player nameJansen
Squad number21Player nameEgurrola
Line-ups
USA
Formation 4-3-3
1Naeher
23Fox8Ertz4Girma19Dunn
9DeMelo17Sullivan10Horan
20Rodman13Morgan11Smith
1Naeher23Fox8Ertz4Girma19Dunn9DeMeloSubstituted forLavelleat 45'minutesBooked at 51mins17Sullivan10Horan20Rodman13Morgan11SmithSubstitutes
2Sanchez3Huerta5O'Hara6Williams7Thompson12Cook14Sonnett15Rapinoe16Lavelle18Murphy21Kingsbury22MewisNetherlands
Formation 3-1-4-2
1van Domselaar
8Spitse3van der Gragt20Janssen
14Groenen
17Pelova6Roord10van de Donk22Brugts
9Snoeijs11Martens
1van Domselaar8Spitse3van der GragtSubstituted forNouwenat 45'minutes20Janssen14Groenen17PelovaSubstituted forCasparijat 87'minutes6RoordSubstituted forJansenat 90+4'minutes10van de Donk22Brugts9SnoeijsSubstituted forEgurrolaat 71'minutes11MartensSubstitutes
2Wilms4Nouwen5van Dongen12Baijings13Jansen15Dijkstra16Kop18Casparij19Kaptein21Egurrola23WeimarReferee:Yoshimi YamashitaAttendance:27,312Live Text
Match ends, USA 1, Netherlands 1.
Second Half ends, USA 1, Netherlands 1.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Daniëlle van de Donk (Netherlands).
Delay in match because of an injury Rose Lavelle (USA).
Daniëlle van de Donk (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rose Lavelle (USA).
Substitution, Netherlands. Renate Jansen replaces Jill Roord.
Attempt missed. Andi Sullivan (USA) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Emily Fox.
Daniëlle van de Donk (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Lindsey Horan (USA).
Substitution, Netherlands. Kerstin Casparij replaces Victoria Pelova.
Attempt missed. Trinity Rodman (USA) left footed shot from long range on the right is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Emily Fox.
Attempt blocked. Alex Morgan (USA) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trinity Rodman with a cross.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Sherida Spitse.
Attempt blocked. Trinity Rodman (USA) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rose Lavelle with a cross.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Lieke Martens.
Attempt blocked. Sophia Smith (USA) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Aniek Nouwen.
Attempt missed. Trinity Rodman (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Sophia Smith.