Netherlands rout Sweden 5-1 to top Group F

The Netherlands scored five goals to overpower Sweden and climb to the top of Group F.

The Dutch defeated Sweden 5-1 in their 2026 World Cup Group F second matchday game at Houston Stadium in Houston on Sunday.

Having drawn 2-2 with Japan in their opening match, the Netherlands moved to first place with one win and one draw — four points. Sweden, who had beaten Tunisia 5-1 in their opener, dropped to second on three points after suffering their first loss.

Third-place Japan (one draw, one point) and fourth-place Tunisia (one loss, zero points) — each with one game played — meet later Sunday at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico.

The Netherlands were in front within five minutes of kickoff. A move involving Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo ended with Brian Brobbey slotting home with his right foot for the opener. Brobbey doubled his tally in the 17th minute, throwing himself at a Denzel Dumfries cross to make it 2-0.

Sweden thought they had pulled one back just before halftime when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed in from a free kick in the 44th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside — a costly disallowance that left the deficit at two going into the break.

The Netherlands extended their lead almost immediately after the restart. Gakpo converted a cross just two minutes into the second half, then completed his brace in the 54th minute by rounding Lagerbielke and drilling a low shot into the net.

Sweden pulled one back in the 59th minute when Antony Elanga finished off a pass from Alexander Isak, using his pace to shake off three Dutch defenders. But the deficit was too large to overcome. The Netherlands sealed the 5-1 victory in the 89th minute through Crysencio Summerville's late strike.

Sweden outshot the Netherlands 15 to 10, yet only Elanga found the net. The story of the match was Dutch clinical efficiency — the Netherlands converted one in every two shots to rack up five goals.

The Netherlands are perennial World Cup contenders who have never lifted the trophy, having finished as runner-up three times — in West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and South Africa in 2010.

The Netherlands face Tunisia at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City on Friday, while Sweden take on Japan at AT&T Stadium in Dallas at the same time.