Netherlands vs Sweden LIVE: Dutch take on high-flying Swedes in second Group F clash

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.

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??

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.

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.

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:

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.

Japan twice came back from a goal down to secure a 2-2draw 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:

Full report:

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)

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.