FIFA World Cup 2026: Netherlands Hit Five as Germany Seal Knockout Spot with Dramatic Comeback

The Netherlands defeated Sweden 5-1 to move closer to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, while Deniz Undav’s late double helped Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and secure a place in the last 32.

The Netherlands cruised past Sweden 5-1 to all but mathematically guarantee a place in the last 32 of the World Cup,with all six goals scored by players from the Premier League.

Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece for Ronald Koeman’s side, with relegated West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville adding a fifth for the Dutch.

Sweden’s consolation goal came from Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga.

Brobbey was a surprise inclusion in the Dutch line-up at the expense of Summerville, who impressed and scored in the 2-2 draw with Japan, but the Black Cats forward took little time in repaying the faith of Koeman.

In the fifth minute the Netherlands went from one end of the pitch in just seven touches – Brobbey took down a long ball from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, played it to Gakpo on the left wing, and then charged into the penalty area to convert the winger’s low cross.

Brobbey netted his second 12 minutes later when he stabbed home from Denzel Dumfries’ low cross after getting goalside of Sweden defender Isak Hien.

Sweden thought they had halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time when Gustaf Lagerbielke nodded into an empty net after beating Verbruggen to a free-kick, but the offside flag went up.

Sweden’s mini-fightback was quashed less than two minutes into the second half when Gakpo tapped in at the back post from another dangerous Dumfries delivery across the face of goal.

Gakpo scored his second in the 54th minute when Summerville – brought on at half-time – drove forward and set the Liverpool man up to drill a low shot past Kristoffer Nordfeldt in the Sweden goal.

That strike took the goals scored at this World Cup to 100 in 33 games, the fastest a century has been reached since the 1958 edition (32 or 33 games as both were played simultaneously).

Graham Potter’s Sweden pulled a goal back five minutes later when substitute Elanga ran on to a through ball and lifted his shot past Verbruggen.

Summerville capped an impressive second-half cameo with a late run and strike into the bottom corner.

The Netherlands go top of Group F with four points, while Sweden will likely need a result against Japan in their final group game to secure progress to the knockout stage.

Undav’s Late Double Sends Germany into World Cup Knockout Stages

Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner, as Germany came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and secure a place in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.

Ivory Coast took the lead in the 30th minute through captain Franck Kessie after Germany had two goals ruled out. The African side looked set to claim a famous victory before Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann’s substitutions changed the game.

Undav levelled the score in the 68th minute, finishing neatly from Nadiem Amiri’s cross. With the match heading towards a draw, the Stuttgart striker struck again in the 94th minute, controlling Felix Nmecha’s pass before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to complete Germany’s comeback.

The victory confirms Germany’s place in the last 32, while Ivory Coast still have a chance to qualify from Group E if they defeat World Cup debutants Curacao in their final group match.