The Netherlands and Germany moved a step closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage after recording impressive wins over Sweden and the Ivory Coast, respectively, in their latest group matches.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
The Netherlands all but sealed their place in the last 32 with a commanding 5-1 victory over Sweden in a pulsating Group F clash, with Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo both scoring braces.
Ronald Koeman’s men wasted little time in stamping their authority on the match and were ahead inside five minutes. The Dutch swept from back to front in a slick move that ended with Gakpo delivering a low cross for Brobbey to turn home after bursting into the box.
Brobbey doubled the lead in the 17th minute, stabbing in from close range after Denzel Dumfries’ dangerous delivery exposed Sweden’s back line once again.
Sweden thought they had found a route back into the contest just before the break when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed into an empty net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The Dutch resumed with the same intensity after the restart and struck again within two minutes of the second half. Dumfries was again the architect, sending in another teasing ball across the goal for Gakpo to tap in at the back post for 3-0.
Koeman’s half-time introduction of Crysencio Summerville added even more spark to the Dutch attack, and it was the winger who helped create the fourth goal in the 54th minute. Driving forward with purpose, Summerville slipped in Gakpo, who drilled a low finish beyond Kristoffer Nordfeldt to complete his brace.
Sweden pulled one back five minutes later through Anthony Elanga, who raced onto a through ball and lifted a composed finish over Bart Verbruggen to reduce the deficit.
Any hopes of a comeback, however, were quickly extinguished as Summerville capped an impressive cameo with a goal of his own, finishing low into the bottom corner late on to complete a dominant Dutch performance.
The result sent the Netherlands to the top of Group F with four points and left Sweden needing a positive result in their final group match against Japan to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
Germany also took a major step towards the knockout rounds after coming from behind to beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto in a hard-fought Group G contest.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and came close early on through Kai Havertz, whose low effort was smartly saved by Yahia Fofana. Jamal Musiala also rattled the post as Germany looked the more likely side to break the deadlock.
But despite Germany’s pressure, it was the Ivory Coast who struck first in the 26th minute. A swift move down the left ended with Diomande pulling the ball across goal for Diallo, whose shot was blocked by Manuel Neuer, only for Franck Kessie to pounce on the rebound and blast home to give Les Elephants the lead against the run of play.
Germany thought they had equalised twice before the break, but both efforts were ruled out. Aleksandar Pavlovic had a goal chalked off for a foul on Fofana from a corner, before Havertz also saw an effort disallowed after Florian Wirtz was penalised in the build-up.
Ivory Coast started the second half brightly and threatened to extend their lead, with Diallo and Kessie both getting into dangerous positions as Germany struggled to regain control.
Nagelsmann responded with a triple substitution on the hour mark, introducing Jamie Leweling, Nadiem Amiri and Deniz Undav, and the changes transformed the momentum of the game.
Germany finally found their equaliser in the 66th minute when Amiri swung in an inviting cross from the right, and Undav rose well to steer his finish beyond Fofana and level the match at 1-1.
With the crowd behind them and the pressure mounting, Germany pushed for a winner and eventually got it late on to complete the turnaround and secure a 2-1 victory.
The win means Germany now sit in a strong position to qualify for the next round, while the Ivory Coast will be left to rue missed opportunities after a spirited display ultimately ended in defeat.
The two results underline the growing momentum of both European heavyweights, with the Netherlands and Germany now firmly on course for the knockout phase after making their quality count when it mattered most.
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