Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey each bagged a brace as the Netherlands steamrolled Sweden 5–1 in Houston, seizing control of Group F at the 2026 World Cup. The result marked the Dutch side's most emphatic performance of the tournament so far.
Sweden, who entered the match with hopes of advancing, could not contain the relentless Dutch attack. Brobbey opened the scoring early before Gakpo added two more, and the pair's physicality overwhelmed a Swedish defense that had conceded only three goals across their previous nine qualifiers.
Brobbey and Gakpo both doubled their tournament goal tally, putting the Netherlands top of Group F with nine points from three matches. Sweden now sit third with four points, facing an uphill battle to progress to the knockout stage.
Elsewhere on matchday 10, Curaçao — a 158,000-person nation making its World Cup debut — held Ecuador to a 1–1 draw, earning its first-ever point on the global stage. The result keeps Curaçao's slim knockout hopes alive and underscores the growing competitiveness of smaller nations in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Germany also secured victory on the day, beating Ivory Coast to stay top of their group, while Japan and Tunisia were set to face off later.