World Cup 2026 Group F: standings, results, and who can qualify
A big opening win for the Swedes has them already thinking of the round of 32, but two tough games remain.
Sweden could hardly have asked for a better start to World Cup 2026. Graham Potter’s side stormed to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey, scoring five goals in a World Cup match for the first time since 1938 and immediately taking control of Group F. Yasin Ayari was the star of the show with two goals, while Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and substitute Mattias Svanberg also found the net, the latter setting a record to boot.
The group’s other opening match was far tighter. Japan and the Netherlands played out an competitive 2-2 draw, leaving both sides with a point but also with work still to do heading into Matchday 2.
That leaves Sweden alone at the top of the standings after the first round of games. The Scandinavians now have a golden opportunity to move within touching distance of the round of 32 when they face the Netherlands next. Japan, meanwhile, will fancy their chances against a Tunisia side that looked badly exposed defensively in its opener.
Group F: results
Group F: standings
After the first matchups in the group, the table looks like this:
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 3 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
Group F: remaining games
- Netherlands vs Sweden (June 20)
- Japan vs Tunisia (June 20)
- Tunisia vs Netherlands (June 25)
- Japan vs Sweden (June 25)
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.