The Netherlands take on Sweden in their second outing at the World Cup 2026, knowing that three points are crucial to their chances of reaching the knockout rounds.
The Dutch were pegged back in their 2-2 opening encounter with Japan, meaning Ronald Koeman’s side had to settle for a point and came into this match sitting third in Group F. Meanwhile, the Swedes topped the table after they swept Tunisia aside 5-1, in a scintillating start to the tournament for Graham Potter’s team.
Speaking of scintillating starts, though, Netherlands secured their own against Sweden, with Brian Brobbey striking twice in the opening 17 minutes amid a dominant display. Cody Gakpo then added his own brace in the second half to make it 4-0, with Sweden looking finished already.
Sweden may still be well-poised to advance to the knockout rounds if they lose, but they will be desperate for at least a draw to make sure.
Follow all the action from Group F with our live blog below:
Netherlands vs Sweden live
- 89' GOAL! Summerville gets in on action as Netherlands finish off game (NED 5-1 SWE)
- 59' GOAL! Elanga pulls one back with smart finish – a flicker of hope? (NED 4-1 SWE)
- 54' GOAL! Gakpo at the double as fine finish piles on more misery (NED 4-0 SWE)
- 48' GOAL! Gakpo strikes to extend Dutch lead early in second half (NED 3-0 SWE)
- 17' GOAL! Brobbey strikes again as Netherlands run rampant (NED 2-0 SWE)
- 5' GOAL! Brobbey converts Gakpo cross to give Dutch early lead (NED 1-0 SWE)
- Netherlands take on Sweden in their second Group F fixture | Kick-off at 6pm, live on BBC One
- Dutch drew with Japan in opener and sit third in group; Sweden top table after thrashing Tunisia
- Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo.
- Sweden XI: Nordfelt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Isak, Gyokeres
Over to Germany...
20:58 , Alex Pattle
Thanks for following our live coverage of Netherlands vs Sweden!
After the Dutch hit the Swedes for five, can Germany outdo them? Can Germany even outdo their own 7-1 win over Curacao?
We’ll find out as die Nationalmannschaft takes on Ivory Coast, and you can follow along here:
Germany vs Ivory Coast LIVE: Team news and updates from Group E clash
Netherlands reveal secret weapon as Sweden’s level is exposed
20:49 , Alex Pattle
“The pre-match discourse focused almost exclusively on Sweden’s luxury strikers. Graham Potter was asked three times about Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, about how he could squeeze the best from his uber-talents. Ronald Koeman was asked whether he was scared by them. ‘We’re not scared,’ he said, and so it proved. Instead this was an afternoon in Houston when Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey out-did them both.”
Read Lawrence Ostlere’s report from Houston Stadium:
Netherlands reveal their secret weapon at the World Cup as Sweden’s level is exposed
Next up in Group F: Tunisia vs Japan
20:39 , Alex Pattle
A crucial game later tonight / early tomorrow morning: Japan play Tunisia at 5am BST.
A win for Japan would put them first or second in the group, depending on if they can outscore Netherlands (which would be a tough task, of course).
A draw would have Japan third in the group, one point behind Sweden, and a loss would put them bottom.
That final possibility would see Tunisia leapfrog them, and it would even see Tunisia go ahead of Sweden on goal difference!!
Group F updated after Netherlands thrash Sweden
20:28 , Alex Pattle
1. Netherlands (4 points; goal difference +4; played 2 games)
2. Sweden (3 points; GD 0; played 2)
3. Japan (1 point; GD 9; played 1)
4. Tunisia (0 points; GD -4; played 1)
5-1 and 1-5
20:19 , Alex Pattle
Potter has now been on both ends of a 5-1 at this World Cup.
Graham Potter speaks on heavy defeat
20:12 , Alex Pattle
Sweden boss Graham Potter: “You can’t concede that many and hope to win.
“We’ll learn a lot from the game. We were playing against a good team, they hurt us in the wide areas.
“I thought we got off to not-a-great start and then came back into it, I thought we were the better team [late in the first half].
“The game got away from us, but the boys kept going.
“Sometimes you have to have these experiences. I didn’t think it was that kind of game, but that’s the scoreline, and we have to learn from it.”
Full-time! Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:57 , Alan Smith
95’ - Sweden win one last corner but it is wasted. And that’s full-time. A resounding win for the Oranje, who looked so fluid in wide areas and with a centre-forward in Brobbey to cause havoc.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:56 , Alan Smith
95’ - Summerville has taken an accidental blow to the head and has a bit of blood pouring from his face. He is off for some attention and is unlikely to return.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:54 , Alan Smith
93’ - Stroud is on for Gudmundsson. At least he can say he played at a World Cup.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:53 , Alan Smith
90’ - Lang replaced Gakpo, who is icing his right forearm, after Summerville’s goal.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:52 , Alan Smith
90’ - This is another beauty and Summerville deserves that after such a good cameo off the bench. He fires into the same left corner as Gakpo’s second, leaving Nordfelt with no chance.
There will be five minutes added on.
GOAL! Netherlands 5-1 Sweden (Summerville, 89)
19:50 , Alan Smith
Jinxed that stat, didn’t we?
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:48 , Alan Smith
87’ - It’s all slowing down. And the third all-European tie is set to end with a third team winning by scoring four goals.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:46 , Alan Smith
84’ - Isak has a go from far out, Verbruggen punches it away in the hope that a photographer will capture a nice shot.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:42 , Alan Smith
81’ - The Dutch are now passing it about rather tamely, running down the seconds.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:41 , Alan Smith
80’ - Bergvall is now booked having taken down Gakpo with a high left foot.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:40 , Alan Smith
79’ - The latest Sweden change: Ayari is finished for the day, Ali of Malmo is on for a competitive debut.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:37 , Alan Smith
77’ - There are 68-thousand-and-change inside the Houston Arena for this.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:36 , Alan Smith
75’ - Ayari rugby tackles Gravenberch, earning himself a yellow card.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:34 , Alan Smith
72’ - No hat-trick for Brobbey as he makes way for Depay
Elanga-turn
19:34 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
In 1970 Johan Cruyff first produced his famous Cruyff-turn against the Swedes. In 2026, Sweden's Anthony Elanga pulls off a Cruyff-turn-nutmeg against the Dutch. Evolution.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:30 , Alan Smith
69’ - Time for the hydration break. Boooooooooooo!
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:29 , Alan Smith
67’ - Elanga nutmegs Van de Ven with a lovely bit of skill, raising oohs and aahs from the crowd. His cross is cleared by Van Hecke. Why was Elanga not in from the start?
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:27 , Alan Smith
66’ - Sweden are enjoying a better spell, performing with abandon now the result appears out of reach.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:24 , Alan Smith
64’ - Brobbey turns Hien and tries to finish his hat-trick but Lindelof does well to intercept. The corner, taken by Koopmeiners, is cleared.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:23 , Alan Smith
61’ - Elanga tries to repay the favour to Isak with a mighty cross from the right. Van Hecke clears it for a corner. Ayari offers an outswinger and Van Dijk heads clear.
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
19:21 , Alan Smith
60’ - A double Dutch change: Til and Koopmeiners are on for De Jong and Reijnders.
GOAL! Netherlands 4-1 Sweden (Elanga, 59)
19:20 , Alan Smith
That’s one back. The substitute makes a quick impact. Isak leads a break, finding Elanga’s run behind Van Dijk and Van Hecke with a smart through ball as a high Dutch line retreats. The finish is even smarter, lifted calmly over Verbruggen.
Netherlands 4-0 Sweden
19:18 , Alan Smith
57’ - Ayari blasts over.
Sweden made a number of changes after that Gakpo goal. Nygren, Bernhardsson and Kallstrom are finished for the day. Elanga, Bergvall and Zeneli have arrived for an unenviable conclusion.
Levels above
19:17 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
World Cup Gakpo is a level above Liverpool Gakpo, isn't he? This is getting a little embarrassing for Sweden now. I still maintain they could have got more out of this game had they been positive from the very start, but the Netherlands are clearly a cut above.
Netherlands 4-0 Sweden
19:17 , Alan Smith
55’ - Isak loses the ball near the Dutch box, allowing Oranje to break. Summerville has space in a central position but moves it on to Gakpo down the inside left. He then cuts inside Lagerbielke and drills a pinpoint strike into the bottom left corner.
GOAL! Netherlands 4-0 Sweden (Gakpo, 54)
19:15 , Alan Smith
54’ - This one IS a bit different. But what a strike from the Liverpool player.
Netherlands 3-0 Sweden
19:14 , Alan Smith
53’ - Gudmundsson is booked for tripping Summerville, who has been lively since coming on.
Netherlands 3-0 Sweden
19:14 , Alan Smith
52’ - This is such an odd performance from Sweden. They are three down after being picked apart in the same way for all concessions but can equally feel some degree of positivity towards how they have combined in attack from the 25th minute on.
Nethlerands 3-0 Sweden
19:12 , Alan Smith
51’ - Ayari puts in a fine cross that somehow evades everyone. The stadium announcer tells the whole place to look at the screen because they will soon show a replay of the third goal. How odd.
Netherlands 3-0 Sweden
19:09 , Alan Smith
48’ - Watching replays of the goal, you can’t help but equally admire how the Dutch have exploited an obvious weakness in the Sweden defence and feel dismayed at how Potter’s side have not learned their lesson.
Dumfries and Summerville combined well down the right and from the cross Brobbey is actually very close to completing his hat-trick - except Gakpo is there to make sure of it.
GOAL! Netherlands 3-0 Sweden (Gakpo, 47)
19:09 , Alan Smith
It’s a copy of Brobbey’s goals as Gakpo taps in a low cross from Dumfries. That should be game over.
Restarted! Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
19:06 , Alan Smith
46’ - Sweden get us underway again.
The Dutch have made a change - Summerville is on for Malen.
Far from a done deal
18:55 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
A good half of football. Sweden will be ruing that first quarter when they were far too passive and gave the Dutch too much respect, though full credit to Brian Brobbey who scored twice and bullied Swedish centre-back Isak Hien. Graham Potter's switch to a back four brought a better performance, but Bart Verbruggen was excellent and Sweden come away with nothing to show for their efforts. Still, it's far from over.
Half-time! Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:50 , Alan Smith
50’ - Into added time of added time - Koeman wants the whistle - and Ayari shoots low towards the bottom left corner. Verbruggen saves again. This corner is whipped in and the goalkeeper punches away.
That is the interval.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:48 , Alan Smith
48’ - Gyokeres tries to bend one. It gets past the wall but not Vergbruggen, who dives to his left and gets a strong hand to the effort. The corner is taken short and worked to Nygren - he fires wide.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:47 , Alan Smith
47’ - Dumfries bundles Ayari over 22 or so yards out and this is an even bigger threat than the previous free kick. The interval is coming at the wrong time for Potter’s men.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:46 , Alan Smith
45’ - There will be four minutes added on.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:45 , Alan Smith
45’ - Sweden briefly think they have a goal back as Lagerbielke meets the cross with his head and squeezes it past Verbruggen.
Except he, and four other team-mates, are offside. Good process from the officials.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:44 , Alan Smith
44’ - Gudmundsson advances to such an extent that Gravenberch decides to bring him down, about 35 yards from goal on the left. It’s a dangerous area for an outswining free kick. Nygren takes and ...
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:42 , Alan Smith
41’ - Ayari flashes over from the edge of the box.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:42 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Potter's tactical switch has worked, forcing his team to play far more on the front foot. But when you're 2-0 down, you can't afford to keep squandering chances. A goal before half-time would really change the dynamic...
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:41 , Alan Smith
40’ - If Dumfries was a couple of inches taller, the Netherlands could be 3-0 up. He rises high to meet a cross from the left but not quite high enough as the leap fails to produce connection with the ball. From the next phase Malen ventures in from the right and sends a low cross-cum-shot that drifts a yard wide.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:39 , Alan Smith
39’ - The first Dutch shot for a while. Gakpo cuts in from the right and spots a gap that he tries to thread the ball through. It is saved by Nordfelt.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:37 , Alan Smith
35’ - Sweden look to build some confidence with a series of careful passes near halfway. But then the pace picks up, the strikers combine well again and Gyokeres brings a smart save from Verbruggen.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:34 , Alan Smith
33’ - Isak combines with Gyokeres, setting the Arsenal player away, but his shot is not a clean one and Van Hecke is there to ease any fears.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:32 , Alan Smith
32’ - A slight lull now, just after it looked like Sweden were beginning to put some moves together.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:30 , Alan Smith
30’ - What a waste from Ayari. Gyokeres does really well to fashion a chance by delivering from the left but, instead of a free header, Ayari tries to chest it down. The problem is his touch is really bad.
Shape change
18:29 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Potter has switched from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3, with Isak and Nygren either side of Gyokeres up front.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:27 , Alan Smith
27’ - Better, sort of. Ayari, who had been anonymous gets forward and wins a corner. From it Karlstrom’s shot is blocked by the head of Lindelof, his team-mate, who looks a touch dazed but will be fine to continue.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:26 , Alan Smith
26’ - We’ve restarted. Sweden will hope to use that reset to their advantage. It will not take much for them to improve.
Swedish rethink
18:25 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Graham Potter spent the first minute of the hydration break – which was loudly booed – talking to one his staff and jotting down notes. Then he gathered his players in a huddle and dished out some instructions. Let's see if we get a different Sweden in the second quarter.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:23 , Alan Smith
22’ - Brobbey draws a foul from Lagerbielke and Sweden are looking increasingly discombobulated. None of the three centre backs can handle the Sunderland man.
Now for a hydration break, which is met with a particularly notable fury from the fans inside a closed stadium with air conditioning blasting.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:21 , Alan Smith
21’ - Potter and his backroom staff are deep in conversation on the bench. They just can’t get it up to their front two.
Sweden intimidated
18:20 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
This is not looking good for Sweden. Anthony Barry's assessment of England's first-half performance against Croatia could apply quite neatly – they look fearful on the ball, rushing it upfield where midfielders were bringing it down and passing against Tunisia. They look a little intimidated by their opponents.
Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
18:18 , Alan Smith
18’ - It’s very similar to his first - a steady close-range finish after getting into the perfect position - with the only difference being his delivery came from Dumfries on the right after the full back pushed up to accept a pass from Malen on the overlap.
That’s the Netherlands’ 100th goal in a World Cup, according to the BBC commentary.
GOAL! Netherlands 2-0 Sweden (Brobbey, 17)
18:16 , Alan Smith
It’s the Brian Brobbey show!
Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
18:15 , Alan Smith
15’ - Sweden are struggling to get out of their half at the moment. Reijnders is the latest in orange to have a go, his punt blocked by Lagerbielke.
Gakpo's influence
18:12 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Gakpo seems so much more impactful in a Dutch shirt, and that was a lovely assist for Brobbey, who might be one of those players to catch the eye of bigger clubs if he has a fruitful tournament.
Sweden having to defend doggedly here to stop it becoming two.
Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
18:12 , Alan Smith
12’ - Malen advances down the right and hangs up a cross that Gravenberch meets but cannot direct goalwards.
A moment later Dumfries swings in a spectacular cross from the right that Gakpo gets on the end of, eventually winning a corner that Gyokeres clears.
Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
18:10 , Alan Smith
10’ - Brobbey uses his strength to cause more havoc again with Gravenberch gobbling up a loose ball and driving forward. The move breaks down but the Dutch have set their game plan out for everyone to see: find the big man and see what comes of it.
Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
18:08 , Alan Smith
8’ - Gyokeres tries to respond quickly - driving a low and hard shot goalwards, earning his team a corner via Verbruggen’s first save of the match. Sweden take the set-piece short and try to work it in towards Isak, except he is flagged offside (perhaps incorrectly).
Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
18:07 , Alan Smith
7’ - It’s such a good goal. Brobbey holds it up really well with his back to goal about 40 yards away. He feeds Reijnders before turning and driving forward. Reijnders picks out Gakpo down the left and his cross is met by Brobbey on the six-yard line. Old fashioned centre forward play.
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Sweden (Brobbey, 6)
18:06 , Alan Smith
But then they turn it on and Brobbey is on hand to score from Gakpo’s low cross. What a lightning bolt.
Netherlands 0-0 Sweden
18:05 , Alan Smith
5’ - This is just the third all-European match of the tournament so far and the previous two saw the winning teams score four. More of the same here would be ideal but the early knockings remain timid. The Dutch are presently playing it around at a casual enough pace, Sweden’s press hardly ferocious.
Netherlands 0-0 Sweden
18:03 , Alan Smith
3’ - A steady start. Gyokeres is caught offside - he’s well off! - and the Dutch are mildly dismayed by the late flag.
Amsterdam in Texas
18:00 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Brilliant noise inside the NRG Stadium, which has been painted mostly orange. This is a like a home game for the Dutch.
Kick-off! Netherlands 0-0 Sweden
18:00 , Alan Smith
1’ - The Dutch get us going, playing from left to right as we view.
17:59 , Alan Smith
Van Dijk and Lindelof, familiar to each other from Premier League duels, exchange pennants as Michael Oliver runs them through the usual chat.
Netherlands are in their orange strip, of course. Sweden will play in their change strip of blue top, light yellow shorts and blue socks.
The pre-match choice of song is Sia’s Titanium - continuing the theme of songs adored at the darts being played at the World Cup.
17:56 , Alan Smith
The big takeaway from the anthems, aside from Potter joining in for Du Gamla, Du Fria, is that Van Hecke’s facial wounds look really, really nasty.
Almost time
17:53 , Alan Smith
Here come the teams under a closed roof. You can hear Shakira blaring in the background as both squads make their way to the centre circle.
Potter: I feel Swedish
17:50 , Alan Smith
"I feel very Swedish when I'm working. I even look a bit Swedish,” the former Chelsea, West Ham and Brighton head coach says in accent that is still every bit English midlands. “Two of my children were born in Sweden. I had seven unforgettable years at Ostersunds, with memories that will stay with me for life.
"You almost become Swedish in a coaching sense because of the experiences you have. Now I'm working for the Swedish FA as head coach of the national team, so I feel very Swedish."
Brobbey's time to shine
17:45 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Perhaps no surprise that Sweden are unchanged after thrashing Tunisia in their opening game. Ronald Koeman makes one change, bringing in Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey for Crysencio Summerville. That move should see Donyell Malen shift out to the right wing with Brobbey through the middle. Brobbey has scored one international goal, which perhaps says something about Netherlands’ attacking options.
Van Dijk's attacking prowess?
17:43 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Fifa's "power ratings" just flashed up on the giant screen here, whatever they are. What was slightly comical – and perhaps telling – was that the second best-rated attacker in the Dutch team so far, admittedly after only one game, is apparently Virgil van Dijk. This actually came up in yesterday's press interviews, when Sweden's No 10 Benjamin Nygren name-checked Van Dijk among the Netherlands' biggest threats, referring to set-pieces. The battle between Van Dijk and his marker – probably Gustaf Lagerbielke – might be important today.
Van Hecke on Spurs move
17:38 , Alan Smith
Jan Paul van Hecke has spoken out for the first time since joining Tottenham from Brighton in a £52m transfer.
Van Hecke will move to Tottenham after manager Roberto De Zerbi took charge and steered the club to Premier League safety on the final day of the season.
De Zerbi previously worked with Van Hecke at Brighton and made the 26-year-old, who had 12 months left on his Brighton contract after a six-year stint on the south coast, a high priority.
Jan Paul van Hecke speaks out after joining Tottenham in £52m transfer
Gakpo aims for win but admits draw not a horror result
17:30 , Alan Smith
“We will go into the match aiming to win, even though we understand that the most important thing is not to lose. I think we have the quality to do that,” the Liverpool player said pre-match of his Netherlands side’s approach.
Familiar foes
17:18 , Alan Smith
This is the 26th meeting between these teams and the Dutch lead 11-8 with six draws.
They haven’t met at a tournament since the last eight of Euro 2004, though - a game that ended scoreless with Oranje winning a shootout. Let’s hope for a bit more action in front of goal today...
Potter: More to come from Isak
17:10 , Alan Smith
“Alex has had a season that has been interrupted,” the Sweden head coach said pre-match. “Most football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we’ve had to try to build Alex up. I think there’s more to come from him.”
Dutch in numbers
17:02 , Lawrence Ostlere in Houston
Hello from Houston, where the spell of summer heat and humidity has just been broken by some morning rain. Fans are pouring in and judging by the ratio of orange to yellow on the streets outside, there are going to be an awful lot more Dutch fans than Swedes inside the NRG Stadium today.
Observing the scene
16:53 , Alan Smith
Confirmed teams
16:46 , Alan Smith
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven,; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Malen, Brobbey.
Sweden XI: Nordfelt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Isak, Gyokeres
Today's referee
16:39 , Alan Smith
... is a familiar name to anyone who follows the Premier League: Michael Oliver.
The least weakest link
16:24 , Richard Jolly
By its very nature, the World Cup is destined to be described in terms of the best. There is an argument, though, that it is determined by the least worst. Or, to put it another way, by who has the strongest weak link. Go by weak link theory and the tournament will not be decided by Lionel Messi or Harry Kane or Kylian Mbappe; each can be called his team’s finest player. But the 11th name on the teamsheet might be the most important.
Especially because, in international football, there is an ever-present risk the worst player is worse than in the elite club sides. Without a transfer market, without the option of importing anyone, then, even in the diaspora World Cup, national team managers are picking from a limited talent pool.
All of the contenders have their flaws - including the two sides we’re about to watch.
The weak link theory that will decide who wins the World Cup
Race for the golden boot
16:18 , Jamie Braidwood
The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is expected to be fierce, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland making early statements in their respective bids to finish the tournament at the top of the scoring charts.
The first ever 48-team World Cup features an additional round of 32, offering the world’s top strikers an additional opportunity of bagging an extra goal as they dream of embarking on a deep run into the tournament.
If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio.
Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings.
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings: Messi, Kane and Mbappe early front-runners
Full World Cup schedule today and tonight
16:11 , Alex Pattle
All times BST:
6pm – Netherlands vs Sweden (Group F)
9pm – Germany vs Ivory Coast (Group E)
1am – Ecuador vs Curacao (Group E)
5am – Tunisia vs Japan (Group F)
Anyone UK viewers planning on staying up and ticking them all off??
Netherlands’ recent record at World Cups
16:02 , Alex Pattle
In 2010, Netherlands reached their third World Cup final, where they were heartbroken for the third time as well.
That defeat by Spain was avenged in a 5-1 thrashing in Netherlands’ 2014 opener, however, en route to a semi-final penalty loss to eventual runners-up Argentina.
2018 marked a major disappointment, though, as Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup at all.
2022 then brought another penalty loss to Argentina, this time in the quarter-finals – but after a spirited fightback in which the Dutch came from 2-0 down, scoring in the 83rd minute and 11 minutes into added time.
Netherlands in trouble if they struggle against spirited Swedes
15:50 , Alex Pattle
If Netherlands were to draw today, they’d be in a precarious position ahead of their final group game with Tunisia.
If they lost, though...? That would mark real danger for Ronald Koeman’s men.
Of course, though, they’d be helped by the rule that the eight best third-placed teams advance.
Still, a win today would almost certainly take them through with a minimum of 4 points by the end of the group stage.
Interview: How Potter led Sweden to World Cup – ‘Best night of my career’
15:41 , Alex Pattle
Sticking on Graham Potter, here’s an interview with the coach from our own part-Swede, Lawrence Ostlere:
A few minutes after the final whistle blew on the play-off final, euphoria still coursing through his veins, Sweden manager Graham Potter gathered his players around him. “Look at this, this is a f*****g team,” he said, pointing at them, before breaking into a broad grin. “And we’re going to the f*****g World Cup, baby!”
Perhaps it was just a throw away line while high on football’s most potent drug, the World Cup. But Potter’s choice of words offered an insight into the unique task of being an international manager, particularly his task. The Swedish FA gave him one job: ‘Get us to the World Cup’.
Full interview:
How Graham Potter led Sweden to the World Cup: ‘It was the best night of my career’
‘Someone scratched me, or bit me’: Potter’s bizarre celebration injury
15:30 , Alex Pattle
Potter was jubilant after his Sweden side beat Tunisia but also appeared to have picked up an injury over the course of the match, as he was pictured bleeding from his right ear.
“I don’t know what happened. Someone scratched me, or bit me. I’ll have to analyse the video footage,” he joked, via Swedish publication Sportbladet.
‘Someone bit me!’: Potter reacts to bizarre injury in Sweden celebrations
How Netherlands stalled in opening game versus Japan
15:22 , Alex Pattle
Japan twice came back from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands last week, as Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute deflection earned Hajime Moriyasu’s side a point at Dallas Stadium.
The game came to life after a tense opening 45 minutes, with Virgil van Dijk giving the Dutch the lead with a pinpoint header in the 51st minute before Keito Nakamura levelled six minutes later.
But while Crysencio Summerville looked to have won all three points for Ronald Koeman's side with a curling strike in the 64th minute, Japan levelled when Kamada deflected Koki Ogawa's powerful header into the net.
Full report:
Japan dig deep to rescue point in World Cup opener against the Netherlands
How Sweden got up and running at the World Cup
15:14 , Sports Staff
Brighton’s Yasin Ayari struck twice and Alexander Isak was on target as Sweden proved too strong for Tunisia and sealed a 5-1 win in their World Cup opener.
Isak put his injury-wrecked first season with Liverpool behind him, grabbing Sweden’s second goal before seizing on a defensive mishap to provide Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres with the third.
Full report:
Sweden stamp mark as World Cup dark horses with Tunisia pummelling
State of play for Netherlands and Sweden
15:07 , Alex Pattle
Group F standings, after one game played each:
1. Sweden (3 points, goal difference 4)
2. Japan (1 point, GD 0)
3. Netherlands (1 point, GD 0)
4. Tunisia (0 points, GD -4)
Netherlands vs Sweden: Welcome!
15:00 , Alex Pattle
The Netherlands take on Sweden in their second outing at the World Cup 2026 knowing that three points are crucial to their chances of reaching the knockout rounds.
The Dutch were twice pegged back in their opening encounter against Japan after goals from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville were cancelled out by Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada. That meant Ronald Koeman’s side had to settle for a point and they come into this match sitting third in Group F.
At the top of the table are Sweden, the European nation managed by former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter. Having failed to win a single game in World Cup qualifying before managing to come through the play-offs due to their Nations League standings, the Swedes turned up at the tournament in blistering fashion.
They swept Tunisia aside 5-1 with prime strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both on the scoresheet. A draw would probably be enough to send them into the next round but victory would guarantee them a place in the last 32.
Follow all the action from Group F with our live blog.
