:Netherlands' forward #19 Brian Brobbey (C) celebrates next to Sweden's goalkeeper #23 Kristoffer Nordfeldt (L) after scoring a goal during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
Los Angeles, United States: The Netherlands put one foot in the World Cup knockout rounds with a stylish 5-1 demolition of Sweden on Saturday as Germany prepared to take on the Ivory Coast with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32.
Sweden, themselves 5-1 winners against Tunisia in their opening Group F match, went into Saturday's showdown with the Dutch in Houston knowing that a victory would guarantee their passage out of the group stage.
But Graham Potter's side were torn apart by a rampant Netherlands team, who roared into a 2-0 lead after after just 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to put the Dutch 4-0 up, ensuring that Sweden's lone strike from Anthony Elanga was only ever going to be a consolation goal.
Crysencio Summerville completed the Dutch rout with a fifth goal on 89 minutes.
The win leaves the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening game, on four points with a healthy plus four goal difference, which is almost certainly likely to be enough to secure a place in the last 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament.
The last time Sweden conceded five goals in a World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost 5-2.
