Brobbey and Gakpo strike twice each as Netherlands rout Sweden 5-1 to lead Group F
Sunday, 21 June 2026
Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece to power Netherlands to a 5-1 win over Sweden on Sunday (NZ time) in the World Cup to bounce back after a disappointing draw in their opener and move atop the Group F standings.
Brobbey’s goals came in the first half, helping the Netherlands get off to a great start and roll to the big win after playing Japan to a 2-2 draw in their first match.
The victory gives Netherlands a group-leading four points. Sweden have three points, with Japan and Tunisia scheduled to play later on Sunday (NZ time).
Gakpo, who also had an assist, extended the lead to 3-0 just after half-time, scoring in the 47th minute off a cross from Denzel Dumfries. He matched Brobbey when he scored on a right-footed shot from the left box in the 54th minute.
Sweden couldn’t build on its strong performance in a 5-1 walloping of Tunisia in their first match. The loss to the Dutch was their biggest World Cup defeat since losing 7-1 to Brazil in 1950.
The Dutch gameplan to play out wide to open up Sweden and cross to Brobbey worked perfectly early. He put the Netherlands on top in the fifth minute when Gakpo crossed into the middle of the box and Brobbey one-timed it with his right foot before tumbling forward to the grass.
His second goal came when he took a cross from Dumfries while sliding and just got his right foot on the ball, scoring inside the far post in the 17th minute.
Anthony Elanga’s left-footed goal cut the lead to 4-1 in the 59th minute and allowed Sweden to avoid the shutout.
Sweden had plenty of chances to score before that, but Netherlands’ goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was brilliant in the first half with four saves.
Sweden appeared to have cut the lead to 2-1 on a header by Gustaf Lagerbielke in the 44th minute, but he was ruled offside. Lagerbielke is a baron from a noble family in Sweden. His father and grandfather are counts.
But he wasn’t the only royalty in the stadium as the Netherlands had two very special guests cheering them on with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima watching from a luxury suite.
The crowd of 68,777 was largely made up of fans of the Netherlands, many of whom made their Oranje Fanwalk two-and-a-half miles from Rice University to Houston Stadium.
Crysencio Summerville, who assisted on Gakpo's second goal, tacked on a goal for Netherlands in the 89th minute and celebrated with NBA star Steph Curry's “night night” gesture.
Sweden finishes group play on Friday (NZ time) against Japan at Dallas Stadium and the Netherlands meet Tunisia in Kansas City.