World Cup 2026 Group F draw: Match schedule and fixtures for Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will place four contrasting football cultures into Group F, with the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden set to open their campaigns next June across venues in Arlington, Guadalupe and neighboring host cities. Under the expanded 48-team format, two and possibly all three of the highest-placed sides will survive the group, adding early tension to every fixture.

Netherlands arrive as the seeded heavyweights, even if memories of Qatar 2022 still sting. An ill-tempered quarter-final penalty shoot-out loss to eventual champions Argentina ended their last tournament, extending a painful legacy: the Oranje have lost more World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010) than any nation yet to lift the trophy. Ronald Koeman—back for a second stint and now taking charge of his first World Cup as manager—guided the Dutch through qualifying unbeaten, topping Group G three points clear of Poland. With a semifinal appearance or better in five of their 11 previous finals trips, the Dutch will be expected to control Group F, even if public expectations are deliberately muted.

Japan were the first nation after the three co-hosts to secure passage, wrapping up AFC third-round qualification with three matchdays to spare. The Samurai Blue won six of seven games, extending a streak of eight consecutive World Cup appearances. Their recent tournament narrative is one of brave but ultimately unfulfilled promise: round-of-16 exits in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022 all featured moments when Japan held the advantage before falling short. Liverpool’s Wataru Endo anchors a midfield that will look to feed Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, two wide threats capable of destabilising any back line. Reaching the knockout stage is the public target; privately, the squad believes a maiden quarter-final is within reach.

Tunisia’s qualification was a masterclass in defensive resilience. The Eagles of Carthage finished the African preliminaries with 28 points from a possible 30, sealing the campaign with a 3-0 dismissal of Namibia and, remarkably, never conceding a goal in Group H under head coach Sami Trabelsi. This will be Tunisia’s seventh World Cup and third in a row, underscoring their transformation from sporadic qualifier to continental constant. While the round of 16 has eluded them, the squad’s cumulative big-tournament experience could prove decisive in tight June conditions.

Sweden clinched the final Group F berth via the European playoffs, defeating Poland in the Path B final. The post-Zlatan era now revolves around Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, whose 19 goals in 32 senior caps propelled the Swedes through the pressure-cooker ties. Alexander Isak’s recovery from a broken leg will be monitored closely; if fit, the Liverpool forward partners Gyokeres in a potentially explosive attack. Graham Potter, hired after club setbacks in England, brings intimate knowledge of Swedish football from seven years spent managing there, a background he hopes will knit together a squad blending prime-age talents dotted across Europe’s top leagues.

Group F fixtures (all times local): Matchday 1 Netherlands vs Tunisia – Arlington, 15 June, 16:00 Japan vs Sweden – Guadalupe, 15 June, 19:00

Matchday 2 Netherlands vs Japan – Arlington, 20 June, 19:00 Sweden vs Tunisia – Guadalupe, 21 June, 16:00

Matchday 3 Japan vs Tunisia – Arlington, 25 June, 18:00 Sweden vs Netherlands – Guadalupe, 25 June, 18:00

The group winner advances to the top half of the knockout bracket to face the runner-up from Group C, while the second-placed side drops into the bottom half against the Group C winner. A third-place finish could still yield progress: eight third-best teams across the 12 groups will progress, though bracket placement will remain fluid until the full landscape is set.

With contrasting styles—Dutch possession, Japanese pace transitions, Tunisian defensive steel and Swedish directness—Group F offers a compelling microcosm of the global game when the world’s biggest tournament kicks off across North America.