Netherlands vs Sweden: Gakpo, Brobbey double gives Dutch World Cup victory 5-1 | World Cup 2026 news

Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the rising Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning for the favourites.

Saturday’s big win in front of nearly 69,000 at Houston Stadium gave the Dutch a happy ending to the knockout stage and lifted them after being held by Japan.

Ronald Koeman’s side are top of Group F with four points from two games, ahead of Sweden on three, Japan (one) and Tunisia (nil).

Despite the heavy loss, the Swedes had plenty of chances but were denied by some good goalkeeping and devastating possession.

Sunderland striker Brobbey started the first leg of the match and hit back at Koeman with a wild goal after five and 17 minutes.

Before that, the 24-year-old had only scored once for his country since his debut three years ago.

In a game full of top Premier League talent, Liverpool’s Gakpo – who started Brobbey in the opening game – scored twice early in the second half.

Substitute Anthony Elanga of Newcastle United pulled Sweden back on the hour with a superb finish.

West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville had the final word for the Dutch five-star.

Two crew members from the historic Artemis II lunar probe were among the VIP guests, nodding to Houston as a space shuttle.

There was no problem here as the Dutch, who held on twice in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Japan to begin their title bid, got off to a flying start in front of their orange-clad fans and King Willem-Alexander.

Brobbey, who entered Summerville despite Japan scoring the winner, started and finished the first goal.

It was produced in the Premier League, with striker Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Gakpo all involved.

Brobbey swapped with Gakpo, before the Anfield striker cut low from the left for his team-mate to slot home from close range.

Sweden, who thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in their first match, could not cope with Brobbey’s presence.

Up front, the much-hyped attacks of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres were eating away at Sweden’s reserves.

Gakpo section

Twelve minutes into the opener, Brobbey made it 2-0 when Denzel Dumfries’ cross from the right fell into his path and he beat Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

The Swedish English coach, Graham Potter, was having a deep conversation with the staff in his room when the game threatened to get away from them.

During an unfortunate hydration break, Potter fired a shot past Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson, who was beaten by the flying Dumfries and Donyell Malen.

Sweden then had their best chance, Gyokeres crossing to the unmarked Yasin Ayari, who deflected the ball onto his chest.

Gyokeres was close to a good chance, failing to connect well after being played through by the unknown Isak.

Gyokeres and Ayari both had other plans, but were denied by Verbruggen who was very active.

The Netherlands was waiting at the end of the half.

Koeman sent Summerville on for Malen on the break and two minutes later it was impossible for Sweden, Gakpo coming in from close range after another dangerous cross from Dumfries.

All three goals were very similar.

Gakpo got the fourth on 54 minutes, turning inside his defender before firing into the bottom corner.

Elanga hit back five minutes later when he ran behind the Dutch defense and slotted the ball past Verbruggen.

Summerville made it five in the dying minutes with his second North American goal.

Sweden still has a good chance of going beyond the last 32.

Japan and Tunisia play later on Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.

Sweden will face Japan next, while the Netherlands play Tunisia.