LIVE – Netherlands vs Sweden: Commentary, updates, goals & stats

Sweden can secure a place in the World Cup playoffs with a win over the Netherlands tonight. Follow our live commentary and see if they can do it…

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The players are out on the field, and the national anthems are playing out over the stadium. We’re getting closer to kick-off here in Houston!

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For history buffs: It was in the clash between these two teams in 1974 that Johan Cruyff performed his famous “Cruyff turn” for the first time. A little gem to take with you into the evening…

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Ronald Koeman makes one change to the Netherlands’ line-up from the 2-2 draw with Japan. Brobbey comes in for Summerville, which probably means that Malen is moved from the striker role to the wing. Graham Potter – perhaps not surprisingly – will field the same team that crushed Tunisia.

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SWEDEN’S SUBSTITUTES:
Jacob Widell Zetterström, Herman Johansson, Lucas Bergvall, Daniel Svensson, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Johansson, Ken Sema, Hjalmar Ekdal, Carl Starfelt, Mattias Svanberg, Eric Smith, Besfort Zeneli, Elliot Stroud, Gustaf Nilsson, Taha Ali

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SWEDEN’S STARTING TALLY (3–5–2):
Kristoffer Nordfeldt – Victor Lindelöf, Isak Hien, Gustaf Lagerbielke – Jesper Karlström, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Alexander Bernhardsson, Yasin Ayari, Benjamin Nygren – Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres

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NETHERLANDS SUBSTITUTES:
Lutsharel Geertruida, Marten de Roon, Nathan Aké, Justin Kluivert, Wout Weghorst, Memphis Depay, Mats Wieffer, Robin Roefs, Guus Til, Noa Lang, Teun Koopmeiners, Mark Flekken, Crysencio Summerville, Jorrel Hato

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NETHERLANDS STARTING LINE-UP (4-3-3):
Bart Verbruggen – Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries – Tijjani Reijnders, Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch – Cody Gakpo, Brian Brobbey, Donyell Malen

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Sweden opened with a convincing 5-1 win over Tunisia and are now looking to win both of their first two group games for only the second time in a World Cup – the first time was in 1958.

Their two previous meetings with the Netherlands in the play-offs have both ended goalless in regulation time (the group stage of the 1974 World Cup, and a 5–4 defeat on penalties at Euro 2004). Sweden have won just one of their previous seven World Cup group games against European opponents – that victory came in the United States in 1994, with a 3-1 win over Russia.

The five goals against Tunisia in the opening match already correspond to the number they scored in the entire group stage of the 2018 World Cup. Only once before have they scored more goals in the group stage – in 1994 (six goals).

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The Netherlands started with a 2-2 draw against Japan, after leading twice. Thus, they have now drawn their last two World Cup matches in regulation time (lost on penalties to Argentina in the quarter-finals in 2022). Only once before have they failed to win three games in a row – that was between 1978 and 1990.

Overall, the Oranje have avoided defeat in 13 consecutive games (regular time), with eight wins and five draws. The last time they lost clearly was 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. This is the longest unbeaten streak in World Cup history – shared with Brazil between 1958 and 1966 (11 wins, 2 draws).

But after a draw in the opening match, the Dutch know that the pressure is high to take three points here.

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Hello, and welcome to our live stream of this Group F clash of the 2026 World Cup between the Netherlands and Sweden at Houston Stadium!

The Netherlands face Sweden hoping to bounce back from the disappointment against Japan. They led twice, but had to settle for one point after Daichi Kamada equalized in the 88th minute.

Sweden had no such problems and crushed Tunisia 5-1, with the striker duo of Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak both scoring.

A win for Graham Potter’s men would send them straight to the knockout stages.

Key figures – Netherlands vs. Sweden