Netherlands Cruise Past Tunisia to Top Group F, Avoid Brazil in World Cup Knockouts

Last Updated:June 26, 2026, 07:14 IST

The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to finish top of Group F, setting up a Round of 32 clash with Morocco, while Japan's draw with Sweden sent them into a showdown with Brazil.

The Netherlands wrapped up their FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Tunisia on Thursday, sealing top spot in Group F and avoiding a daunting Round of 32 clash against Brazil.

Ronald Koeman’s side needed a professional performance in Kansas City and delivered exactly that, taking control inside the opening seven minutes thanks to a pair of defensive lapses from Tunisia.

The breakthrough arrived after just three minutes when Denzel Dumfries whipped in a dangerous cross that Tunisia midfielder Ellyes Skhiri inadvertently sliced into his own net. Four minutes later, the Dutch doubled their lead as Virgil van Dijk headed Tijjani Reijnders’ free-kick back across goal for Brian Brobbey, who fired home from close range for his third goal of the tournament.

With the Netherlands firmly in command, the sea of orange inside Arrowhead Stadium was already celebrating midway through the first half, while Tunisia struggled to recover from another nightmare start.

The North Africans briefly threatened a comeback after the break when Hazem Mastouri headed in Hannibal Mejbri’s corner in the 54th minute, scoring Tunisia’s first goal of the tournament. Any hopes of a revival, however, lasted only a few minutes.

Jan Paul van Hecke restored the Dutch’s two-goal cushion just after the hour mark, powering home a header from another Reijnders set-piece, with the effort taking a slight deflection on its way into the net.

Knockout Picture

The win took the Netherlands to seven points from three matches, enough to edge Japan to first place in Group F after the Samurai Blue were held to a 1-1 draw by Sweden in Arlington.

Finishing atop the group means the Dutch will now face Morocco in the Round of 32 in Monterrey on Monday, while second-placed Japan have the far tougher assignment against Brazil.

Sweden also progressed as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams and are set to face France.

Tunisia’s Campaign Ends in Disappointment

Tunisia’s World Cup came to a disappointing end after conceding 12 goals across three group matches. Their campaign spiralled despite the appointment of veteran French coach Hervé Renard, who replaced Sabri Lamouchi after the opening 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

Having cruised through qualification without conceding a single goal, Tunisia’s defensive collapse at the finals proved one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, as successive heavy defeats to Japan and the Netherlands sealed an early exit.

(with AFP inputs)

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Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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