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Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden secured their qualification on Thursday for the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, while Tunisia concluded their participation without earning a single point in three matches. This is how the was settled after the decisive matchday held simultaneously in Kansas City and Dallas.
The Dutch defeated Tunisia 3-1 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to finish first with 7 points, two victories, and one draw in three matches. The goals came early on: an own goal by Ellyes Skhiri in the third minute and another by Brian Brobbey in the seventh practically settled the match from the start. Hazem Mastouri pulled one back for Tunisia in the 54th minute, but Jan Paul Van Hecke capped off the scoring in the 62nd.
In the other match of the day, Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Takefusa Maeda opened the scoring for Japan, and Anthony Elanga equalized for Sweden. This result was enough for Japan to maintain second place with 5 points, and for Sweden to qualify as the best third-placed team provisionally with 4 points, although their final qualification for the next round depends on the results from the other groups.
Tunisia finished the tournament with a record of two goals scored and 12 goals conceded, resulting in a goal difference of -10 that reflects the gap between the African team and the rest of the group. The Tunisians had been mathematically eliminated after the second matchday, without having earned any points.
The group was marked from the start by Dutch dominance. On day 1, the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 in a match that reached its most dramatic moment in the 89th minute when Daichi Kamada equalized for the Asians. That same day, Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.
On the second matchday, the Netherlands crushed Sweden 5-1 with a brace from Brobbey and another from Gakpo, making it clear who was in charge of the group. Meanwhile, Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 in what was the 1,000th match in the history of the men's World Cups, played in front of 51,243 spectators at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.
Brobbey was the top scorer for the Dutch team in the group stage, with goals in the second and third matches. The Netherlands accumulated 10 goals in three games, the best offensive record in the group.
Regarding the round of 32 matchups, the Netherlands will face Morocco on June 29 in Monterrey, while Japan will take on Brazil on the same day. The matchup for Sweden, currently the best third-place team, will be determined once the group stage concludes in the other groups.
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