World Cup 2026: Netherlands and Sweden are Box Office Stuff

Netherlands vs Sweden

They may not be the most fashionable nations to support at the World Cup 2026, but the Netherlands and Sweden have already shown they will be worth following over the next three weeks.

This is the action on offer on Saturday at the NRG Stadium in Texas, in a compelling Group F match which is sure to give us plenty to talk about. Goals were flowing on both these two nations’ openers, as Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan, while Graham Potter’s Sweden handed out a 5-1 thrashing to Tunisia.

 

Talking Points

Oranje are more than dark horses

Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands have been widely tipped as dark horses for the competition, below the list of the likes of Argentina, Spain, and France, but they have the quality in their squad and determination to challenge for the top prize, and they have an inspired leader to push them on.

Liverpool and Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk turns 35 the day before the quarter-finals are due to begin, and he has suggested this could be his last major tournament with the Oranje, hinting this could be his international swansong when delivering an emotional address to his teammates before the tournament started.

So the towering centre-back will be desperate to lead the Netherlands to World Cup glory for the first time in their history, in what looks likely to be his final-ever appearance at a major tournament. Never say never, but if the talismanic skipper is ready to say goodbye to international football, then his players will do all they can to make it a special farewell.

The Liverpool man opened the scoring against Japan with an assist from club-mate Ryan Gravenberch, but the Netherlands were frustrated by their opponents in their opener, going ahead twice but being pegged back both times by the fighting Samurai Blue, the second leveller an 89th-minute header from Daichi Kamada.

The Oranje need a result in this match, preferably a victory. But with a beleaguered Tunisia still to play, it is not a win or bust. But now is the time to show they are more than dark horses.

 

Sweden’s strikers pack a punch

The pre-match World Cup 2026 betting odds say the Oranje have the players to pick up a win on Saturday, but they won’t be taking anything for granted against a side with two of the Premier League’s highest-rated strikers. And both were on target as Sweden swept aside Tunisia 5-1.

Alexander Isak has suffered an injury-ravaged campaign since his £125 million transfer from Newcastle United last summer, but his return to fitness has come at a perfect time for Sweden. He marked his first World Cup appearance with a superb goal and two assists, while his strike partner Viktor Gyokeres assisted his goal and scored one of his own, and 22-year-old midfield ace Yasin Ayari helped himself to a brace. The Brighton star took advantage of sloppy Tunisia defending to open the scoring with a long-range rocket before Isak got in on the act, taking a pass from Gyokeres before surging forward and rifling his shot low into the corner.

While Isak had an unlucky start to his Liverpool career, Gyokeres picked up a Premier League winners medal with Arsenal in his first campaign in the English top-flight, and he opened his World Cup account with help from Isak, after Tunisia had halved the deficit when Omar Rekik breached the Sweden defence.

Isak teed up Mattias Svanberg for the fourth before Ayari powered home another long-range strike to round off a five-star display. The Seagulls star became the youngest Sweden player to score at a World Cup finals since Tomas Brolin in 1990, but he refused to celebrate against the nation of his father’s birth.

Sweden are keen to make new World Cup 2026 highlights, and van Dijk and his defence will need to be at their best on Saturday.

 

History

The Oranje are edging the head-to-heads by three to one, and there have been four draws in the eight previous meetings. It is almost a decade since the last encounter when the Netherlands won 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier back in 2017.  

In terms of recent form, the Netherlands have won three, drawn one, and lost one of the last five games, while Sweden have won two, drawn two, and lost one.

 

Betting Tip

The Netherlands are favourites to win this game at SBOTOP odds of 1.67, with Sweden at 4.75, and the draw is priced at 3.80.  Potter’s team certainly have their tails up, and the Oranje have goals in them too, so I expect another entertaining bout.

   

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