Netherlands beat Tunisia 1-3 to top Group F
An own goal from Skhiri plus strikes from Brobbey and Van Hecke saw the Netherlands top the group despite Mastouri's goal at the 2026 World Cup.
The Netherlands cruised to a 1-3 win over Tunisia at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, one of the US venues for the 2026 World Cup holding 69,000 spectators and renowned as one of the loudest stadiums in the country, to close the third round of Group F. The Oranje completed the group stage as leaders at this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The game broke open very early. In the 3rd minute, an own goal from Ellyes Skhiri put the Dutch ahead, and just four minutes later, in the 7th, Brian Brobbey extended the lead after an assist from Virgil van Dijk to make it an early 2-0 and set the tone.
Tunisia did not give up and pulled one back in the second half. In the 54th minute, Hazem Mastouri beat the Dutch goalkeeper from a Hannibal Mejbri pass to revive North African hopes. The response, however, came quickly: in the 62nd, Jan Paul van Hecke made it 3-1 after an assist from Tijjani Reijnders.
Ronald Koeman set up the Netherlands in a 4-3-3 with Frenkie de Jong in midfield and Cody Gakpo in attack, while Hervé Renard countered with a crowded Tunisian 5-4-1 that could not contain the Oranje's threat. The Dutch showed quality and depth to wrap up the group comfortably.
With this win, the Netherlands close Group F as leaders on seven points and book their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with authority. Tunisia, by contrast, bow out of the tournament without a point, with a record of three defeats in their three group-stage matches.