Predictions
Group F Wrap: Netherlands Top, Japan and Sweden Through, Tunisia Out
Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to win Group F, while a 1-1 Japan–Sweden draw sent both through to the round of 32. Tunisia leave the World Cup without a point.
Group F is settled. The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City to take top spot, while Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in Dallas — a result that suited both and pushed them both into the round of 32. The two simultaneous kickoffs were the games left pending from our June 25 recap; here are the confirmed finals.
Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia
Ronald Koeman’s side never looked troubled. The Dutch were ahead inside three minutes when Ellyes Skhiri turned into his own net (3’), and four minutes later Brian Brobbey made it 2-0 (7’). Tunisia, already eliminated coming into the night, pulled one back through Hazem Mastouri early in the second half (53’), but Jan Paul van Hecke restored the two-goal cushion with a header just after the hour (62’).
The win gave the Netherlands the group on seven points and a place in the favourable side of the bracket. Tunisia leave the tournament with three defeats from three and no points.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
In Dallas, Japan and Sweden played out a controlled 1-1 draw that both sides could live with. Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead (55’), only for Anthony Elanga to level for Sweden seven minutes later (62’) with a curled finish. With the Netherlands taking care of business against Tunisia, the point was enough for Japan to secure second place and for Sweden to go through among the best third-placed teams.
Final Group F table
The Netherlands finish first on seven points, Japan second on five, and Sweden third on four — enough to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Tunisia, beaten in all three games and with a goal difference of −10, are eliminated.
What it means
Three teams move on from Group F, and the round-of-32 picture sharpens: the Netherlands as group winners head into the knockouts in form, Japan carry their unbeaten group run forward, and Sweden sneak through the back door. For the rest of Thursday’s drama, including Ecuador’s upset of Germany, read our June 25 recap and the Ecuador 2-1 Germany report.
Scorelines, scorers and standings above are confirmed final results, cross-checked against official FIFA match data and major outlets (FIFA.com, ESPN, Sky Sports, Fox Sports). This article contains no estimated or projected scores.