Netherlands Thrash Sweden to Move Within Reach of World Cup Knockout Stage

Netherlands Thrash Sweden to Move Within Reach of World Cup Knockout Stage

The Netherlands took a major step toward the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden in Group F, powered by braces from Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo.

Ronald Koeman’s side produced one of their most convincing performances of the tournament to move to the top of the group and put themselves on the verge of qualification for the last 32.

Brian Brobbey, who was handed a surprise start ahead of Crysencio Summerville, justified his selection almost immediately. The striker opened the scoring in the fifth minute after finishing off a swift Dutch counterattack. After bringing down a long pass from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Brobbey released Gakpo down the left before racing into the penalty area to convert the Liverpool forward’s low cross.

The Netherlands doubled their advantage 12 minutes later through Brobbey again. This time, Denzel Dumfries delivered a dangerous low ball into the box, and the striker got ahead of his marker to poke home his second goal of the evening.

Sweden thought they had found a route back into the contest just before halftime when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed into an empty net following a free kick, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Any hopes of a Swedish comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart. Less than two minutes into the second half, Cody Gakpo arrived at the back post to finish another dangerous Dumfries delivery and make it 3-0.

The Liverpool attacker grabbed his second goal of the match in the 54th minute after substitute Crysencio Summerville drove forward on a counterattack and teed him up for a low finish beyond goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

That strike also marked the 100th goal of the 2026 World Cup, reaching the milestone after just 33 matches, the quickest century of goals recorded at the tournament since the 1958 edition.

Sweden managed to pull one back five minutes later through substitute Anthony Elanga. The Newcastle United winger latched onto a through ball before lifting his effort over Verbruggen to reduce the deficit.

However, the Dutch had the final say. Summerville capped an impressive second-half appearance by scoring the fifth goal, finishing calmly into the bottom corner after a well-timed run into the penalty area.

The result lifts the Netherlands to the top of Group F with four points and leaves them on the brink of securing a place in the knockout stage.

For Sweden, the heavy defeat leaves qualification hopes hanging in the balance. Graham Potter’s side will likely need a positive result against Japan national football team in their final group-stage match to keep their World Cup campaign alive.