Netherlands Maintains Unbeaten Streak with 5-1 Victory Over Sweden in FIFA World Cup 2026
The Netherlands continued their impressive form in the FIFA World Cup 2026, securing a commanding 5-1 win over Sweden in Houston on Saturday. This victory marked the largest win for the Dutch in World Cup history, matching their previous highest goal tally in tournament.
In a stunning performance, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each scored twice, making them only the second duo of Dutch teammates to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. This win extended the Netherlands’ unbeaten streak to 13 World Cup games, dating back to their loss in the 2010 final against Spain. This record ties them with Brazil for the longest unbeaten streak in World Cup history, which spanned from 1958 to 1966.
With this victory, the Netherlands now holds the record for the most consecutive World Cup matches without defeat, totaling 14, as well as the longest unbeaten run in World Cup group matches at 18.
Brobbey’s two goals in the first half set the stage for an energetic match. This win comes after the team’s earlier 2-2 draw with Japan. With four points, the Netherlands currently leads Group F, while Sweden has three points.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman expressed optimism about the team’s performance, noting, “The way we played builds confidence. Now we have a better mindset with these four points.”
Gakpo, who also provided an assist, scored right after halftime, and added another goal in the 54th minute. He mentioned the importance of varied attacking strategies, stating, “Today, we had more variation in our play, which made it hard for the defenders to mark us.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk Praises Team’s Performance
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk applauded the team’s overall play, saying they were “outstanding” throughout the match. He added, “We were solid defensively and strong going forward, scoring five brilliant goals. Now we focus on the next challenge.”
Looking ahead, the Netherlands will face Tunisia in their final Group F match on Thursday, while Sweden will go up against Japan at the same time.
