The Netherlands produced one of the most impressive performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, defeating Sweden 5-1 at Houston's NRG Stadium and moving into provisional first place in Group F.

Brian Brobbey was the standout performer for the Dutch side. The striker opened the scoring in the fifth minute before adding a second goal in the 17th minute following an assist from Denzel Dumfries. His early brace marked the fastest World Cup double since Lukas Podolski scored twice for Germany against Sweden in 2006, coincidentally against the same opponent.

Ronald Koeman's team dominated from the opening whistle and carried that momentum into the second half. Cody Gakpo extended the lead with back-to-back goals in the 47th and 54th minutes, effectively putting the contest out of reach.

Sweden managed to pull one back in the 59th minute through Anthony Elanga, who finished a move created by Alexander Isak. Despite the goal, the Scandinavian side struggled to generate sustained pressure against the well-organized Dutch defense. The final blow came in the 89th minute when Crysencio Summerville unleashed a powerful long-range strike to complete the emphatic 5-1 scoreline.

The victory highlights the strength and attacking depth of the Dutch squad. With players such as Brobbey, Gakpo, Dumfries and Summerville performing at a high level, the Netherlands has emerged as one of the strongest contenders in the tournament and a serious threat to any opponent moving forward.

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