Led by an in-form Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo, the Netherlands secured three crucial points in their second group F fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, owing to a dominant 5-1 win over Sweden at the Houston Stadium on Saturday.
The Netherlands immediately assumed their position on the ball with early possession dominance and penned Sweden back in their own half during the first five minutes.
Ronald Koeman’s side broke the deadlock after five minutes on the clock in a move that started from the goalkeeping position. With Bart Verbruggen finding Brobbey with a long ball toward the centre of the pitch, the powerful forward managed to hold off his opposite number before the ball was played to Gakpo, who swung a low ball into the area from the left flank as Brobbey finished easily.
The Netherlands doubled their advantage in the 17th minute as Brobbey got his name on the scoresheet once more. Following another sustained period on the ball, a deflected ball off Gabriel Gudmundson on the right side of the box fell into the path of Brobbey, who finished from close range.
Sweden looked lively after the hydration break and tested Verbruggen on numerous occasions toward the halftime whistle, namely through Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.
With wind in their sails, Sweden thought they had taken the lead when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed the ball home from a set-piece situation in the 44th minute. However, the effort was chalked off after he was caught in an offside position.
Netherlands increased their lead within two minutes of the new half, this time with Gakpo joining Brobbey on the scoreboard. After finding space on the right side of the box yet again, Gakpo popped on the far post to tap in a low-driven cross into the box by Crysencio Summerville.
Then, in a moment where the Netherlands turned defence into attack, Gakpo added a fourth goal in the 54th minute, moments after Isak lost possession in a crucial counterattacking movement. After collecting the ball on the edge of the area, the Liverpool star drove forward before switching onto his right foot and finishing with a clinical effort toward the goalkeeper’s left.
Three goals in a flash at the Houston Stadium ⚽️🔥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 20, 2026
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Not holding back, Sweden pulled one back at the hour-mark courtesy of second-half substitute Anthony Elanga, who capped off a rapid counter-attacking move from the edge of their own box with a well-taken left-footed strike inside the Netherlands area.
Graham Potter’s side gathered momentum after Elanga’s goal, mostly through quick breaks leading up to the 70th minute, leaving the Netherlands to track back constantly while Verbruggen was summoned into action on a couple of occasions.
Despite playing under immense pressure, the Netherlands added their fifth goal in the 89th minute after carving through the Swedish backline with clever link-up play between Memphis Depay and Summerville. With the latter starting and finishing off the move, the West Ham star advanced toward the goal before slotting the ball home with a well-taken right-footed shot toward the keeper’s right.
Nonetheless, the Netherlands walked to victory on the night and took their tally to four points as they put themselves in a decent position to qualify for the next phase of the showpiece.
Netherlands: (2) 5 (Brobbey 5’, 17’, Gakpo 47’, 54’, Summerville 89’)
Sweden: (0) 1 (Elanga 59’)
Netherlands: Verbruggen, van de Ven, van Dijk, van Hecke, Dumfries, Reijnders (Til 59’), de Jong (Koopmeiners 59’), Gravenberch, Gakpo (Lang 90’), Brobbey (Depay 72’), Malen (Summerville 46’)
Sweden: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof, Karlstrom (Zeneli 55’) Bernhardsson (Elanga 55’), Nygren (Bergvall 55’), Ayari (Ali 79’), Gudmundsson (Stroud 90’), Gyokeres, Isak
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