Netherlands vs Sweden Prediction and Betting Tips

Competition- FIFA World Cup 2026

Group F — Matchday 2: Saturday, 20 June 2026

Time: 8pm

Venue – NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Sweden leads Group F after a 5-1 statement over Tunisia, but their opponents for match day two, the Dutch, who were twice pegged back by Japan, will need a response in Houston to keep their qualification ambitions on track.

Read our World Cup predictions here: WORLD CUP OUTRIGHT PREDICTIONS

Why Netherlands vs Sweden match matter

Sweden sits at the top of Group F with three points after routing Tunisia 5-1 in Guadeloupe, Mexico, before this flight to Houston. Netherlands’ chances were dented on Day One after that dramatic 2-2 draw against Japan despite leading twice in the 50^th and 64^th minutes through their captain Van Dijk and Cirro Summerville. Japan scored back through Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada. Netherlands need to fight for a win by all means to avoid the pressure that comes with last-day mathematics, especially with Tunisia looking like everyone’s drum.

A win for Sweden will all but propel them to the Round of 32 and maybe go into the final pool games in search of a result that presents a favourable draw.

Netherlands have attracted the tag of “perennial underachievers” due to their mixed form in recent editions. Despite reaching the final, which they lost to Spain in 2010, and winning a bronze medal in Brazil 2014, they failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and lost to Argentina in extra time of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

 They come with quite some genuine ambitions of doing better this time, but their opener against Japan delivered a brutal lesson in why that ambition will require improvement.

But all is not gloomy for the Netherlands yet as that opening draw stretched their run to 16 unbeaten matches at the FIFA World Cup dating back to the last time the finals were held in the USA, 1994.

Sweden has been to 13 finals, with their best result registered in 1954 as runners-up and in the USA in 1994 as bronze winners. After reaching the quarters in Russia 2014 and missing out in the Qatar party, they could not have asked for a better start. Yasin Ayari’s brace and goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Mattias Svanberg eased the pressure on them going into this match.

Head-to-Head results: Netherlands vs Sweden

10.10.2017 – Netherlands 2-0 Sweden

06.09.2016 – Sweden 1-1 Netherlands

11.10.2011 – Sweden 3-2 Netherlands

12.10.2010 – Netherlands 4-1 Sweden

19.11.2008 – Netherlands 3-1 Sweden

Last 5 meetings

Netherlands wins – 3

Sweden wins – 1

Draws – 1

Goals – Netherlands 12-6 Sweden

Netherlands recent form – DWLDW

Netherlands’ last five matches

14.06.2026 – Netherlands 2-2 Japan

08.06.2026 – Netherlands 2-1 Uzbekistan

03.06.2026 – Netherlands 0-1 Algeria

31.03.2026 – Netherlands 1-1 Ecuador

27.03.2026 – Netherlands 2-1 Norway

Goals scored – 7

Goals conceded – 6

Key trends from recent matches

Netherlands led twice, but twice, their defence let them down against Japan in that opener but in the bigger picture, it was a symptom of the bigger problem that they have. Despite having the bulky experienced Van Dijk commanding the back, they have conceded a goal in each of their last five matches, including against Uzbekistan. They have scored exactly two goals in three of their last five and failed only once against Algeria in the preparations.

Sweden’s recent form – WDLWW

Sweden’s last five matches

15.06.2026 – Sweden 5-1 Tunisia

04.06.2026 – Sweden 2-2 Greece

01.06.2026 – Norway 3-1 Sweden

31.03.2026 – Sweden 3-2 Poland

26.03.2026 – Ukraine 1-3 Sweden

Goals scored – 14

Goals conceded – 9

Key trends from recent matches

The 5-1 win over Tunisia was Sweden’s second biggest victory at the FIFA World Cup after beating 8-0 Win over Cuba in France in 1938. They drew 2-2 against Greece and lost 3-1 to Denmark in the pre-tournament build-ups. However, in competitive matches that include that win over Tunisia, they have won all their last three, scoring three or more goals in each of them. They have managed 14 goals in their last five, averaging 2.8 goals per game and have conceded in each of their last seven games.

Netherlands team news

Memphis Depay has a small issue with his hamstring but managed 70 minutes against Japan before Donyell Malen came in. The Dutch have no other injury worries going into this game.

Key players: Virgil van Dijk is the defensive cornerstone and has more work to do in organizing their defence. Frenkie de Jong has been controlling their midfield while Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Depay remain their biggest attacking threat. West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville scored the second goal against Japan on his third cap and should be a genuine contender for a place in that starting team.

Sweden team news

Graham Potter doesn’t have any injury headaches going into this game.

Key players: The telepathic chemistry between Isak and Gyokeres, who contributed three of the five goals scored against Tunisia, should boost them into this one. Gyokeres has amassed 20 goals for Sweden in 33 appearances.

Netherlands predicted starting lineup: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries; Virgil van Dijk – Micky van de Ven; Nathan Ake; Ryan Gravenberch; Frenkie de Jong – Tijjani Reijnders; Cody Gakpo; Memphis Depay; Noa Lang.

Sweden predicted starting lineup: Viktor Johansson; Daniel Svensson; Pontus Almqvist – Viktor Lindelof; Albin Gudmundsson; Hugo Karlstrom; Mattias Svanberg – Lucas Bergvall; Anthony Elanga; Viktor Gyokeres; Yasin Ayari. 

Best Betting Markets for Netherlands vs Sweden

Match winner – Netherlands to win

Total goals – Over 2.5

Both teams to score – Yes

Anytime goalscorer – Viktor Gyokeres

Where to Bet on the Netherlands vs Sweden

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