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Netherlands vs Sweden — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-346CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026 · HOUSTON
FT
Netherlands
51
Sweden
Match events
  • B. Brobbeyassist C. Gakpo5'1–0
  • B. Brobbeyassist D. Dumfries17'2–0
  • D. MalenOn: C. Summerville46'
  • C. Gakpoassist D. Dumfries47'3–0
  • C. Gakpoassist C. Summerville54'4–0
  • F. de JongOn: T. Koopmeiners59'
  • T. ReijndersOn: G. Til59'
  • B. BrobbeyOn: M. Depay72'
  • C. Summervilleassist M. Depay89'5–1
  • C. GakpoOn: N. Lang90'
  • 53'G. Gudmundsson
  • 55'A. BernhardssonOn: A. Elanga
  • 56'J. KarlstromOn: B. Zeneli
  • 56'B. NygrenOn: L. Bergvall
  • 4–159'A. Elangaassist A. Isak
  • 75'Y. Ayari
  • 79'Y. AyariOn: T. Ali
  • 80'L. Bergvall
  • 90+3'G. GudmundssonOn: E. Stroud
NEDMatch statsSWE
51%Possession49%
10Shots16
7Shots on Target8
2Corners5
9Fouls12
0Yellow Cards3

Netherlands — starting XI

4-3-3
1 B. Verbruggen22 D. Dumfries6 J. Hecke4 V. Dijk15 M. Ven8 R. Gravenberch21 F. Jong14 T. Reijnders18 D. Malen19 B. Brobbey11 Cody Gakpo
Bench
  • 24Crysencio Summerville
  • 16Guus Til
  • 20Teun Koopmeiners
  • 10Memphis Depay
  • 17Noa Lang
  • 23Mark Flekken
  • 13Robin Roefs
  • 25Jorrel Hato
  • 5Nathan Aké
  • 2Lutsharel Geertruida
  • 12Mats Wieffer
  • 7Justin Kluivert
  • 3Marten de Roon
  • 9Wout Weghorst

Sweden — starting XI

3-1-4-2
23 K. Nordfeldt2 G. Lagerbielke4 Isak Hien3 V. Lindelöf16 J. Karlström21 A. Bernhardsson10 B. Nygren18 Y. Ayari5 G. Gudmundsson17 V. Gyökeres9 A. Isak
Bench
  • 22Besfort Zeneli
  • 7Lucas Bergvall
  • 11Anthony Elanga
  • 26Taha Abdi Ali
  • 24Elliot Stroud
  • 1Jacob Widell Zetterström
  • 12Viktor Johansson
  • 15Carl Starfelt
  • 14Hjalmar Ekdal
  • 20Eric Smith
  • 8Daniel Svensson
  • 6Herman Johansson
  • 13Ken Sema
  • 19Mattias Svanberg
  • 25Gustaf Nilsson
3
All-time meetings
2
Netherlands wins
1
Draws
0
Sweden wins
02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

27.7
Average Age
27.6
03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

Netherlands

W
D
W
L
D
Jun 20
vs Sweden
World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · NRG Stadium
5–1
Jun 14
vs Japan
World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · AT&T Stadium
2–2
Jun 8
vs Uzbekistan
Friendlies · Friendly International · Icahn Stadium
2–1
Jun 3
vs Algeria
Friendlies · Friendly International · De Kuip
0–1
Mar 31
vs Ecuador
Friendlies · Friendly International · Philips Stadion
1–1

Sweden

L
W
D
L
W
Jun 20
at Netherlands
World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · NRG Stadium
1–5
Jun 15
vs Tunisia
World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · Estadio BBVA
5–1
Jun 4
vs Greece
Friendlies · Friendly International · Strawberry Arena
2–2
Jun 1
at Norway
Friendlies · Friendly International · Ullevaal
1–3
Mar 31
vs Poland
World Cup - Qualification Europe · Final · Strawberry Arena
3–2
05 · Key Battles

Netherlands vs Sweden: The Key Battles

Three pivotal duels will define this group-stage clash between Dutch pragmatism and Swedish resilience.

// Left wing vs Right back · Sharp angles
Gakpo's dribbling speed and positional intelligence will test Lagerbielke's positioning. The Twente man is solid but faces a winger in peak form—expect Gakpo to find pockets of space and deliver dangerous crosses into the box.
// Centre-back vs Striker · Aerial supremacy
Gyökeres brings physicality and pressing intensity, but van Dijk is the gold standard of centre-back play. Expect the Liverpool captain to dominate set pieces and read the game with ease, keeping the Sporting forward largely contained.
// Midfield orchestrators · Tempo control
Two young talents vying for possession dominance in the centre. Simons' press resistance and creative range give him an edge, but Bergvall's energy could disrupt rhythm—this battle will shape the match's flow and determine who controls transitions.
06 · Style Clash

Netherlands vs Sweden: The Tactical Story

The Dutch seek to suffocate via ball dominance; Sweden opts for disciplined shape and rapid transitions.

// Koeman's Possession-based pressing
Netherlands
vs
// Hamrén's compact counter
Sweden
Progressive
Build-up style
Direct
Aggressive
Press trigger
Reactive
Creative
Wing play
Defensive
Expansive
Midfield control
Compact
Measured
Transition speed
Explosive
Dominant
Set-piece threat
Organized
07 · Win Probability

Win probability.

Even-money default — ranks not yet on file.

38NED
24DRAW
38SWE
38%
24%
38%
09 · The Bench

The bench faceoff.

R. Koeman
Netherlands · Head coach

R. Koeman

🇳🇱
E. Hamrén
Sweden · Head coach

E. Hamrén

🇬🇧
10 · The Venue

NRG Stadium

Houston · USA / CAN / MEX
Stadium guide →
72,000
Capacity
Houston
City
2002
Opened
grass
Surface
12 · Where to watch

Where to watch.

USA
FOX / Telemundo
UK & Ireland
BBC / ITV
Latin America
Globo / TyC Sports
Worldwide
FIFA+ (selected territories)
The squads

Both line-ups.

Every name in the frame — tap a player for their dossier, or a crest for the full team.

// the wire

Netherlands v Sweden · the wire

All news →
// match file
Netherlands vs Sweden.
The full dossier — form, key battles, the take — sharpens closer to kickoff.
GROUP STAGENRG Stadium