FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final Draw
GROUP F
5 December 2025 · Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Netherlands
Pot 1 · #7
Japan
Pot 2 · #18
Sweden
Pot 3 · #38
Tunisia
Pot 4 · #44
THE ELITE GROUP
Group F.
The elite group.
On the fifth of December twenty twenty-five, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D C, the balls came out.
Netherlands.
Japan.
Sweden.
And Tunisia.
Four teams.
Three confederations.
The second-strongest group on average rank in the entire tournament.
Group F · By the Numbers
Four teams. 37 places between top and bottom.
Netherlands
FIFA #7
Koeman · €766M squad
Japan
FIFA #18
Moriyasu · €264M
Sweden
FIFA #38
Potter · €364M
Tunisia
FIFA #44
Trabelsi · €69.65M
Here they are by the numbers.
Netherlands.
FIFA ranked seventh.
Ronald Koeman in charge.
Squad value seven hundred and sixty-six million euros.
Japan.
Ranked eighteenth.
Hajime Moriyasu on the touchline.
Squad value two hundred and sixty-four million.
Sweden.
Ranked thirty-eighth.
Graham Potter, the Englishman, leading them.
Squad value three hundred and sixty-four million.
And Tunisia.
Ranked forty-fourth.
Sami Trabelsi back in charge of the Eagles of Carthage.
Squad value sixty-nine point six five million.
Group F · The Favourites
Netherlands
FIFA #7
Group F · The Favourites
NETHERLANDS
Highest-ranked team in the first six groups. Squad worth roughly 10× Tunisia's. Depay is now the all-time top scorer; de Jong rediscovered under Flick; Reijnders brilliant at Manchester City.
€766M
Squad Value
UEFA-A
Group Winners
DEP+FDJ+REI
Spine in Form
Head Coach
Ronald Koeman
⚠ Missed 2018 WC entirely · struggle vs compact sides · Japan-style counter hurts them
Let's start at the top.
Netherlands.
FIFA ranked seventh.
The highest ranked team in the first six groups.
Ronald Koeman, reappointed in June twenty twenty-three, contract extended through this World Cup.
Squad value around seven hundred and sixty-six million euros.
Roughly ten times what Tunisia's squad is worth.
Netherlands qualified as UEFA Group A winners.
The strength is the resource gap.
Memphis Depay is now their all-time top scorer.
Frenkie de Jong rediscovered under Hansi Flick.
Reijnders in brilliant form at Manchester City.
The weakness is uglier.
Netherlands missed the twenty eighteen World Cup entirely.
They tend to underperform against compact defensive sides.
And Japan-style counter-attack is exactly the style that hurts them.
NETHERLANDS · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Dutch players to watch
1/4
NETHERLANDS · CAPTAIN · CB
Virgil van Dijk
34
Age
Liverpool
Club
90
Caps
12
Goals
★ 1.93m of positional reading and aerial dominance. Led Netherlands to the 2022 quarter-finals. Liverpool's Champions League campaigns kept him at the very top of European centre-backs.
Virgil van Dijk.
The captain.
Thirty-four years old.
Liverpool.
Ninety caps.
Twelve goals.
One metre ninety-three of positional reading and aerial dominance.
Led Netherlands to the twenty twenty-two quarter-finals.
Liverpool's Champions League campaigns have kept him at the very top.
NETHERLANDS · NUMBER 9
Memphis Depay
32
Age
Corinthians
Club
108
Caps
55
Goals
★ Netherlands' all-time top scorer. Surpassed van Persie's record of 50 with a brace against Lithuania in September 2025. The most prolific Dutch striker ever.
Memphis Depay.
The number nine.
Thirty-two years old.
Corinthians in Brazil, contract expiring this July.
One hundred and eight caps.
Fifty-five goals.
Netherlands' all-time top scorer.
He surpassed Robin van Persie's record of fifty with a brace against Lithuania last September.
The most prolific Dutch striker ever.
NETHERLANDS · MIDFIELDER
Frenkie de Jong
27
Age
Barcelona
Club
64
Caps
1G/5A
La Liga
★ Contract until 2029. 20 La Liga appearances this season, one goal, five assists. 8 Champions League appearances. Rediscovered his form under Hansi Flick. Press-resistant, world-class on the ball.
Frenkie de Jong.
The midfielder.
Twenty-seven years old.
Barcelona, contract until twenty twenty-nine.
Sixty-four caps.
Twenty La Liga appearances this season, one goal, five assists.
Eight Champions League appearances.
Rediscovered his form under Hansi Flick.
Press-resistant, world-class on the ball.
NETHERLANDS · BREAKOUT
Tijjani Reijnders
27
Age
Man City
Club
30
Caps
7
Goals
★ Signed by Manchester City in June 2025 on a deal until 2030. Scored on his Premier League debut against Wolves. 5 league goals + 2 assists. Scored the goal that sealed Netherlands' qualification against Lithuania.
Tijjani Reijnders.
The breakout star.
Twenty-seven years old.
Manchester City, signed in June twenty twenty-five on a deal until twenty thirty.
Thirty caps.
Seven goals.
Scored on his Premier League debut against Wolves.
Five league goals, two assists this season.
Scored the goal that sealed Netherlands' qualification against Lithuania.
Group F · The Giant-Killers
Japan
FIFA #18
Group F · The Giant-Killers
JAPAN
Highest-ranked Asian side. Beat Germany and Spain at WC2022 — only Group F team to topple top-5 ranked nations at a World Cup. Endo was the first international captain to seal a WC2026 place.
€264M
Squad Value
1ST CAP
Endo led WC2026
GER+ESP
Toppled in 2022
Head Coach
Hajime Moriyasu
⚠ Shootout curse 2018 + 2022 · Endo injury concerns at Liverpool
Now.
Japan.
Ranked eighteenth.
The highest ranked Asian side at the tournament.
Hajime Moriyasu, in charge since twenty eighteen, contract through this World Cup.
Squad value around two hundred and sixty-four million euros.
Japan qualified through the AFC.
Wataru Endo became the first international captain to guide his nation to a twenty twenty-six World Cup place.
The strength is famous.
They beat Germany and Spain in twenty twenty-two.
They are the only team in Group F who have toppled top-five ranked nations at a World Cup.
The weakness is the shootout curse.
Out on penalties to Belgium in twenty eighteen.
Out on penalties to Croatia in twenty twenty-two.
And Endo has had injury concerns at Liverpool.
JAPAN · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Japanese players to watch
1/4
JAPAN · CAPTAIN · DM
Wataru Endo
32
Age
Liverpool
Club
70+
Caps
3RD WC
2018→26
★ The defensive anchor. The first international captain to take his side to WC2026. Japan beat Bahrain 2-0 in March 2025 to seal it. Champions League experience makes him Japan's most European-savvy holding midfielder.
Wataru Endo.
The captain.
Thirty-two years old.
Liverpool.
Over seventy caps.
The defensive anchor.
The first international captain to take his side to twenty twenty-six.
Japan beat Bahrain two-nil in March twenty twenty-five to seal it.
His third World Cup.
Champions League experience makes him Japan's most European-savvy holding midfielder.
JAPAN · NUMBER 10
Takefusa Kubo
24
Age
Real Sociedad
Club
48
Caps
2G/4A
1,309 mins
★ Entering his prime. Can play as a 10 or wide right. The most dangerous creative force in Japan's system.
Takefusa Kubo.
The number ten.
Twenty-four years old.
Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Forty-eight caps.
Seven goals.
Two goals, four assists, one thousand three hundred and nine minutes this season.
Entering his prime.
Can play ten or wide right.
The most dangerous creative force in Japan's system.
JAPAN · LEFT WINGER
Kaoru Mitoma
28
Age
Brighton
Club
31
Caps
9
Goals
★ Signed at Brighton until 2027. One of the most effective wide players in the Premier League. When Mitoma runs at defenders the entire defensive shape collapses.
Kaoru Mitoma.
The left winger.
Twenty-eight years old.
Brighton in the Premier League, signed to twenty twenty-seven.
Thirty-one caps.
Nine goals.
One of the most effective wide players in the league.
When Mitoma runs at defenders the entire defensive shape collapses.
JAPAN · STRIKER
Ayase Ueda
25
Age
Feyenoord
Club
~30
Caps
~10
Goals
★ The clinical finisher leading Japan's press. His movement off the ball creates the space for Kubo and Mitoma in behind.
Ayase Ueda.
The striker.
Twenty-five years old.
Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.
Around thirty caps.
Around ten goals.
The clinical finisher leading Japan's press.
His movement off the ball creates the space for Kubo and Mitoma in behind.
Group F · Play-off Redemption
Sweden
FIFA #38
Group F · Play-off Redemption
SWEDEN
First foreign manager since George Raynor in 1958. Beat Ukraine 3-1 in the semi, then Poland 3-2 in the final on 31 March 2026 — pure redemption against the same Poland that knocked them out four years earlier.
PLAY-OFF
UEFA route
1958
Last foreign mgr
POL 3-2
Final, 31 Mar
Head Coach
Graham Potter
⚠ Kulusevski's knee · Potter only 8 months with the squad
Now.
Sweden.
Ranked thirty-eighth.
Graham Potter, the Englishman, appointed on the twentieth of October twenty twenty-five.
Sweden's first foreign manager since George Raynor in nineteen fifty-eight.
Squad value around three hundred and sixty-four million euros.
Sweden missed twenty twenty-two.
They qualified through the UEFA play-off.
Beat Ukraine three-one in the semi on the twenty-sixth of March.
Then beat Poland three-two in the final on the thirty-first of March twenty twenty-six.
Pure redemption against the same Poland that knocked them out four years earlier.
The strength is Alexander Isak.
One hundred and twenty-five million pounds to Liverpool last summer.
The weakness is Kulusevski's knee, and Potter's eight months with the squad.
SWEDEN · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Swedish players to watch
1/4
SWEDEN · CAPTAIN · CB
Victor Lindelöf
31
Age
Aston Villa
Club
75
Caps
3
Goals
★ Free transfer from Manchester United in September 2025. Named captain after the Zlatan era ended. Steady aerially. Strong in possession. Potter's defensive structure is built around him.
Victor Lindelöf.
The captain.
Thirty-one years old.
Aston Villa in the Premier League, on a free from Manchester United in September twenty twenty-five.
Seventy-five caps.
Three goals.
Named captain after the Zlatan era ended.
Steady aerially.
Strong in possession.
Potter's defensive structure is built around him.
SWEDEN · NUMBER 9
Alexander Isak
26
Age
Liverpool
Club
56
Caps
£125M
Jul 2025
★ British transfer record at the time. 54 Premier League goals in 86 games for Newcastle before the move. Broke Ibrahimovic's record for most PL goals by a Swede in a season.
Alexander Isak.
The number nine.
Twenty-six years old.
Liverpool, signed in July twenty twenty-five for one hundred and twenty-five million pounds.
A British transfer record at the time.
Fifty-six caps.
Sixteen goals.
Fifty-four Premier League goals in eighty-six games for Newcastle before the move.
Broke Ibrahimovic's record for most Premier League goals by a Swede in a season.
SWEDEN · RIGHT WINGER
Dejan Kulusevski
25
Age
Tottenham
Club
45
Caps
5
Goals
★ Contract until 2028. 10 goals across 50 Tottenham appearances last season. Knee surgery May 2025. Expected fit. His fitness is Sweden's single biggest variable.
Dejan Kulusevski.
The right winger.
Twenty-five years old.
Tottenham, contract until twenty twenty-eight.
Forty-five caps.
Five goals.
Ten goals across fifty Tottenham appearances last season.
Knee surgery in May twenty twenty-five.
Expected fit.
His fitness is Sweden's single biggest variable.
SWEDEN · VETERAN
Emil Forsberg
34
Age
RB Leipzig
Club
~120
Caps
29
Goals
★ Sweden's most-capped active outfield player. The set-piece deliverer. The experience axis Potter leans on when Kulusevski is unavailable.
Emil Forsberg.
The veteran.
Thirty-four years old.
R B Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Around one hundred and twenty caps.
Twenty-nine goals.
Sweden's most-capped active outfield player.
The set-piece deliverer.
The experience axis Potter leans on when Kulusevski is unavailable.
Group F · Eagles of Carthage
Tunisia
FIFA #44
Group F · Eagles of Carthage
TUNISIA
First nation ever to qualify for a World Cup without conceding a single goal. Confirmed 13 October 2025. Unprecedented defensive record. Skhiri's Bundesliga composure plus Hannibal Mejbri's wild card.
€69.65M
Squad Value
0 GA
in entire quals
13 OCT
Sealed 2025
Head Coach
Sami Trabelsi
⚠ Lowest squad value in group · resource gap · Skhiri limited minutes this season
And finally.
Tunisia.
Ranked forty-fourth.
Sami Trabelsi, back in charge for a second stint since the tenth of February twenty twenty-five.
Squad value around sixty-nine point six five million euros.
The lowest in Group F by a long way.
Tunisia made history in this qualifying campaign.
The first nation ever to qualify for a World Cup without conceding a single goal.
Confirmed on the thirteenth of October twenty twenty-five.
The strength is that defensive record.
Unprecedented.
Skhiri's Bundesliga composure.
Hannibal Mejbri as the wild card.
The weakness is the resource gap.
No player in a top-five European league at the level of Netherlands or Japan.
And Skhiri has had limited minutes this season.
TUNISIA · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Tunisian players to watch
1/4
TUNISIA · CAPTAIN · CM
Ellyes Skhiri
30
Age
Eintracht
Club
78
Caps
1,111
Bundesliga mins
★ Four-year deal at Eintracht Frankfurt since July 2023. Instrumental in Eintracht's Champions League qualification. The engine of Tunisia's defensive organisation.
Ellyes Skhiri.
The captain.
Thirty years old.
Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, on a four-year deal since July twenty twenty-three.
Seventy-eight caps.
Four goals.
One thousand one hundred and eleven Bundesliga minutes this season.
Instrumental in Eintracht's Champions League qualification.
The engine of Tunisia's defensive organisation.
TUNISIA · X-FACTOR
Hannibal Mejbri
23
Age
Burnley
Club
44
Caps
4
Goals
★ First senior international goal vs Liberia on 13 October 2025, in the historic zero-conceded campaign. Former Manchester United academy. The attacking spark in an otherwise defensive team.
Hannibal Mejbri.
The X-factor.
Twenty-three years old.
Burnley in the Premier League.
Forty-four caps.
Four goals.
His first senior international goal came against Liberia on the thirteenth of October twenty twenty-five, in the historic zero-conceded campaign.
Former Manchester United academy.
The attacking spark in an otherwise defensive team.
TUNISIA · GOALKEEPER
Aymen Dahmen
29
Age
CS Sfaxien
Club
0 GA
in quals
CLEAN
every match
★ Clean sheet in every match of Tunisia's qualifying campaign. The only goalkeeper in World Cup qualifying history to end an entire campaign with zero goals conceded.
Aymen Dahmen.
The goalkeeper.
Twenty-nine years old.
C S Sfaxien in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle.
The guardian.
He kept a clean sheet in every match of Tunisia's qualifying campaign.
The only goalkeeper in World Cup qualifying history to end an entire campaign with zero goals conceded.
TUNISIA · CENTRE-BACK
Montassar Talbi
26
Age
CB
Role
ANCHOR
of system
0 GA
10 quals
★ Tunisia's defensive partner at the heart of the Trabelsi system. The physical anchor that allowed Skhiri to press higher. Tunisia's zero-goal qualifying record was built on Talbi repelling attacks game after game.
Montassar Talbi.
The centre-back.
Twenty-six years old.
Tunisia's defensive partner at the heart of the Trabelsi system.
The physical anchor that allowed Skhiri to press higher.
Tunisia's zero-goal qualifying record was built on Talbi repelling attacks game after game.
Group F · Schedule
6 GAMES. 4 TEAMS.
One path out.
NED
JPN
SWE
TUN
Now the matches.
GROUP F · SCHEDULE
All 6 Group F matches
1/6
MATCHDAY 1 · 14 JUN
Netherlands vs Japan
14 Jun 2026 · 15:00 local
Netherlands
VS
Japan
AT&T Stadium · Arlington TX · ~94,000 seats
GROUP-DEFINING MATCH
★ Home of the Dallas Cowboys. Renamed Dallas Stadium for the World Cup. The first NFL venue with a retractable roof. The group-defining match on matchday one.
Match one.
The fourteenth of June.
Netherlands versus Japan.
A T and T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Ninety-four thousand seats.
Retractable roof.
Home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Renamed Dallas Stadium for the World Cup.
Fifteen hundred local kickoff.
The group-defining match on matchday one.
MATCHDAY 1 · 14 JUN
Sweden vs Tunisia
14 Jun 2026 · 20:00 local
Sweden
VS
Tunisia
Estadio BBVA · Guadalupe NL · ~53,500 seats
ISAK vs DAHMEN'S WALL
★ Home of Monterrey. Renamed Estadio Monterrey for the World Cup. Isak against Dahmen's wall — the £125M striker against the campaign-clean-sheet keeper.
Match two.
The fourteenth of June.
Sweden versus Tunisia.
Estadio B B V A in Guadalupe, Nuevo León.
Fifty-three thousand five hundred seats.
Home of Monterrey.
Renamed Estadio Monterrey for the World Cup.
Twenty hundred local kickoff.
Isak against Dahmen's wall.
MATCHDAY 2 · 20 JUN
Netherlands vs Sweden
20 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
Netherlands
VS
Sweden
NRG Stadium · Houston TX · ~72,220 seats
VAN DIJK vs ISAK
★ The first NFL stadium with a retractable roof. Renamed Houston Stadium for the World Cup. Van Dijk against Isak — Liverpool team-mates on opposite sides.
Match three.
The twentieth of June.
Netherlands versus Sweden.
N R G Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Seventy-two thousand two hundred and twenty seats.
The first N F L stadium with a retractable roof.
Renamed Houston Stadium for the World Cup.
Twelve noon local kickoff.
Van Dijk against Isak.
MATCHDAY 2 · 20 JUN
Tunisia vs Japan
20 Jun 2026 · 22:00 local
Tunisia
VS
Japan
Estadio BBVA · Guadalupe NL · ~53,500 seats
BLOCK vs KUBO+MITOMA
★ Estadio BBVA again — its second Group F booking. Tunisia's compact block against Kubo and Mitoma in transition.
Match four.
The twentieth of June.
Tunisia versus Japan.
Estadio B B V A in Guadalupe, again.
Twenty-two hundred local kickoff.
Tunisia's compact block against Kubo and Mitoma in transition.
MATCHDAY 3 · 25 JUN
Japan vs Sweden
25 Jun 2026 · 18:00 local
Japan
VS
Sweden
AT&T Stadium · Arlington TX · ~94,000 seats
ENDO vs FORSBERG
★ AT&T Stadium again — its second Group F booking. Endo against Forsberg in midfield. Japan's discipline against Sweden's set-piece axis.
Match five.
The twenty-fifth of June.
Japan versus Sweden.
A T and T Stadium in Arlington, again.
Eighteen hundred local kickoff.
Endo against Forsberg in midfield.
MATCHDAY 3 · 25 JUN
Tunisia vs Netherlands
25 Jun 2026 · 18:00 local
Tunisia
VS
Netherlands
Arrowhead Stadium · Kansas City MO · ~76,416 seats
DEPAY vs CARTHAGE
★ Home of the four-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The oldest stadium in the World Cup field, opened in 1972. Renamed Kansas City Stadium for the World Cup. Depay against the Eagles of Carthage.
Match six.
The twenty-fifth of June.
Tunisia versus Netherlands.
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Seventy-six thousand four hundred and sixteen seats.
Home of the four-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
The oldest stadium in the World Cup field, opened in nineteen seventy-two.
Renamed Kansas City Stadium for the World Cup.
Eighteen hundred local kickoff.
Depay against the Eagles of Carthage.
Predicted Standings · Bookmakers
The verdict from Vegas.
| Team | Win Group | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1Netherlands | ~58% | FAVOURITES |
| 2Japan | ~25% | GIANT-KILLERS |
| 3Sweden | ~20% | ISAK CLASS |
| 4Tunisia | ~10% | DEFENSIVE WALL |
Sources: BetMGM + FanDuel + DraftKings · April 2026
THE HINGE · Netherlands vs Japan · AT&T Stadium · 14 Jun
Mark The Dates
MATCHDAY 1
14
JUN
NED vs JPN · AT&T Arlington
SWE vs TUN · BBVA Guadalupe
SWE vs TUN · BBVA Guadalupe
MATCHDAY 2
20
JUN
NED vs SWE · NRG Houston
TUN vs JPN · BBVA Guadalupe
TUN vs JPN · BBVA Guadalupe
FINAL MD
25
JUN
JPN vs SWE · AT&T Arlington
TUN vs NED · Arrowhead KC
TUN vs NED · Arrowhead KC
NED
JPN
SWE
TUN
Follow AI Football for every group · every player · every story
Mark the dates.
The fourteenth of June.
Two games.
Netherlands versus Japan in Arlington, and Sweden versus Tunisia in Guadalupe.
The twentieth of June.
Two more.
Netherlands versus Sweden in Houston, and Tunisia versus Japan in Guadalupe.
The twenty-fifth of June.
The final matchday.
Japan versus Sweden in Arlington.
Tunisia versus Netherlands in Kansas City.
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