World Cup preview: Netherlands vs Sweden team news and key stats
By Joel Masibo, June 20, 2026The battle for valuable Group F points at the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues on Saturday, June 20, 2026, when the Netherlands take on Sweden at Houston’s NRG Stadium in the United States.
Sweden head into the contest in a strong position after opening their campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Tunisia. The Scandinavian side currently leads the group with three points. Meanwhile, the Dutch sit third after being held to a 2-2 draw by Japan in their first match of the tournament.
Dutch seeking first victory
The Netherlands produced an entertaining display against Japan but were left frustrated after surrendering the lead on two occasions. Ronald Koeman’s side had opportunities to secure all three points but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils.
With only one point from their opening fixture, the Oranje know that a positive result against Sweden would significantly improve their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds. Their final group game comes against Tunisia on June 25, and four points could potentially be enough to secure qualification.
Despite boasting a rich footballing history, the Netherlands are still chasing their first World Cup title. They have finished runners-up three times, most recently in 2010, while also securing third place in 2014. Their most recent World Cup appearance in 2022 ended in the quarter-finals.
Historically, the Dutch have enjoyed the better record in meetings between the two nations, winning 12 of their 25 encounters while losing eight.
The only previous World Cup meeting between the sides came during the 1974 tournament, when they played out a goalless draw in the group stage. The Netherlands eventually reached the final before losing to West Germany.
Sweden riding high
Sweden could hardly have wished for a better start to their World Cup campaign. Graham Potter’s men overwhelmed Tunisia in their opening fixture, scoring five times to announce themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout phase.
Victory over the Netherlands would guarantee Sweden’s progression to the last 32. Depending on the outcome of the other Group F fixture, it could also place them firmly in control of top spot.
The Swedes’ finest World Cup achievement remains their runners-up finish on home soil in 1958. More recently, they reached the quarter-finals in 2018 but failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.
While they may not have been among the tournament favourites before kick-off, Sweden’s attacking quality has quickly attracted attention, making them one of the more dangerous sides in the competition.
Team news
Koeman is expected to retain much of the side that faced Japan, with no fresh injury concerns reported after the opening match.
Veteran striker Memphis Depay may once again begin on the bench as he continues to build fitness following recent injury problems. Cody Gakpo is likely to keep his place despite attracting criticism for his display in the draw against Japan.
The defensive unit is expected to remain unchanged, while Frenkie de Jong should continue to anchor the midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders.
For Sweden, star forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak are both expected to start after finding the net against Tunisia.
Midfielder Yasin Ayari was one of the standout performers in Sweden’s opening victory, scoring twice, and is set to retain his place in the starting lineup. Lucas Bergvall and Anthony Elanga may again have to settle for substitute roles given the impressive performances of those ahead of them.
Possible starting XIs
Netherlands:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Summerville, Malen, Gakpo.
Sweden:
Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Isak, Gyokeres.