World Cup 2026 Group F: Standings, results, and who can qualify
After a pair of thumpings on matchday two, Sweden have been left playing catch-up to the Dutch and the Japanese - and Tunisia have been eliminated.
After thumping wins on matchday two, the Netherlands and Japan are the frontrunners for Group F’s automatic knockout-stage berths - although Sweden also have their top-two fate in their hands. Tunisia, however, will have nothing to play for in next week’s final round of group games: after suffering a second straight thrashing, the North Africans have been knocked out of the 2026 World Cup.
What happened on Group F matchday two?
Having hammered Tunisia 5-1 in their Group F opener last weekend, Sweden went into Saturday’s clash with the Netherlands knowing a win would seal last-32 progression. Instead, they lost by the very scoreline they had inflicted on the Tunisians: Brian Brobbey and Codey Gakpo both grabbed braces for the Dutch, before Crysencio Summerville completed the rout in Houston.
Japan, who had drawn with the Netherlands on matchday one, then confirmed Tunisia’s elimination in Saturday’s second Group F game. Ayase Ueda scored twice in Monterrey, as the Samurai Blue romped to a 4-0 victory. Tunisia’s pre-match decision to sack Sabri Lamouchi as head coach, and replace him with Hervé Renard, could not prevent another heavy defeat.
So who needs what on Group F matchday three?
After walloping Sweden, the Netherlands are level with Japan on points, head-to-head record and goal difference, but top Group F on goals scored. Against Tunisia next Thursday, a point will be enough for the Dutchmen to make certain of automatic last-32 qualification. If they beat the Tunisians, Ronald Koeman’s men will definitely top the group if they better Japan’s win-draw-loss outcome.
The Dutch can also secure first place if they avoid defeat and match Japan’s outcome against Sweden, as long as the Japanese don’t overtake them on goal difference or subsequent tiebreakers. For example, if both teams take all three points next week, Japan can leapfrog the Netherlands if they win by a greater margin.
The Netherlands could drop to third if they lose to Tunisia and Sweden beat Japan, but this would also come down to tiebreakers.
Japan are guaranteed a top-two spot if they win or draw against the Swedes, and will snatch first place if they avoid defeat and better the Netherlands’ win-draw-loss outcome. Hajime Moriyasu’s team could also win Group F if they avoid defeat and match the Oranje’s outcome - but, again, they would need tiebreakers to go their way.
Japan would definitely slip out of the top two if they lost to Sweden and the Netherlands won or drew against Tunisia.
But even if the Japanese or the Dutch miss out on automatic qualification, neither is likely to be eliminated. Having accrued four points in their first two games, both teams’ totals are probably good enough already to at least advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
After Saturday’s thumping in Houston, meanwhile, Sweden must now beat Japan if they want to finish in the top two. Victory for Graham Potter’s team would see them win the group if the Netherlands failed to defeat Tunisia.
As the Dutch now have the head-to-head advantage over Sweden, a draw wouldn’t be enough for the Scandinavians to stamp a direct last-32 ticket, even if the Netherlands lost to the Tunisians. That said, the Swedes would probably go through from third place if they finished up on four points.
Three points might also be sufficient for the Swedes to qualify in third; however, having had a healthy goal difference wiped out to zero, that’s now a much less likely eventuality for the Swedes.
Group F: results
Matchday one: June 14
Matchday two: June 20:
Group F: standings
After two matchdays, the table looks like this:
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 4 |
| Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 4 |
| Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 0 |
Group F: remaining games
- Tunisia vs Netherlands (June 25)
- Japan vs Sweden (June 25)
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