Netherlands - Sweden / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Netherlands vs. Sweden match in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which you can also watch live on JOJ play, kicks off at 7:00 PM CET.

When discussing the favorites for Group F before the tournament, few would have predicted such a deep psychological chasm between them ahead of their second-round clash. While Sweden, after a dominant 5-1 destruction of Tunisia, enjoys the top spot with three points, the Netherlands, with a single hard-fought point from a wild draw against Japan, stares down the barrel of a loaded gun. Should they falter in this upcoming blockbuster, the door to the knockout stage could slam shut definitively.

Graham Potter, on the Swedish bench, has so far proven to be a tactical genius. His choice of two classic strikers in the opening match led to absolute dominance, making Tunisia look at times as if they were playing in a lower league. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres once again confirmed their reputation as one of the deadliest attacking duos in modern football – both found the back of the net, with Isak also adding an assist and making life a nightmare for the opposition defense.

However, the absolute revelation of the match was the two-goal scorer Yasin Ayari, rightly hailed as one of the best players of the opening round of the entire championship. Sweden's direct passes behind the defense worked brilliantly, yet their triumph also hides a silent warning: the conceded goal extended their dreadful streak without a clean sheet to twelve matches.

Ronald Koeman will need to exploit this Swedish defensive vulnerability, though he himself has his hands full with the Netherlands' own defense. The "Oranje" experienced a minor sporting tragedy in their match against Japan (2-2). They controlled the ball for 60 percent of the game, led, and dictated the tempo, but their play in the final third was sterile. When Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring from a corner kick and Ryan Gravenberch delivered two excellent assists, it seemed the favorites were cruising to victory.

However, Koeman's cautious move, reorganizing his team into a three-center-back system after scoring to make it 2-1 with the aim of defending the lead, proved to be a fatal error. The team lost control, and Japan deservedly equalized from a set-piece late in the game. The Dutch misery of not keeping a clean sheet now extends to five consecutive international matches.

Therefore, a fascinating tactical battle is brewing on the pitch. The scenario is clear: the Dutch midfield trio of Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, and Tijjani Reijnders will try to seize possession and dictate a controlled tempo through the midfield. For Sweden, who can play from a more relaxed position, this will be an ideal situation. Their lightning-fast transitions into attack and unbridled speed in runs into space behind the advanced Dutch defense pose a deadly risk for the often-stiff Europeans.

Since the Netherlands, under threat of complicating their progression, must win, and Sweden, with the momentum from their first match, can play with joy, cautious chess will be thrown out the window. Both teams demonstrated immense attacking power in the first round, but also revealed vulnerabilities at the back.