World Cup 2026 Group F: Netherlands look to top tough group

I LOVE GROUP F. We’ve got four teams with realistic chances of qualifying and with no notable minnows, we should get some belting tussles, goals and entertainment.

Below you can find my World Cup 2026 Group F predictions, as the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia battle it out. 

World Cup 2026 Odds

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Netherlands

FIFA world ranking: 7

To win the group: 8/11

An unbeaten qualification campaign, six wins and two draws, meant that Ronald Koeman’s side cruised to the World Cup by topping their group. This Dutch squad hasn’t lost since mid 2025, when they played out an enthralling 5-5 aggregate draw with Spain in the Nations League before losing on penalties. 

That will give those of an Oranje persuasion huge confidence heading into this World Cup, while they also stacked up well in Qatar, again only losing on pens to eventual champions Argentina in that barnstorming game. A semi-final defeat to England at the 2024 Euros also shows signs of a Dutch side that is progressing, and the squad is packed full of talent. 

Bart Verbruggen is being linked with the best teams in the world, Virgil van Dijk has one more World Cup in him, and will be supported by Nathan Ake, Micky van de Ven, Denzel Dumfries and Jorrell Hato.

Ryan Gravenberch, Xavi Simons and Tijjani Reijnders have all had indifferent Premeir League campaigns but boast clear quality, while Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbery will want to make an impact. Memphis Depay, now playing for Corinthians, has 55 goals in 108 appearances for his national side and cannot be ignored. 

Key Player: Denzel Dumfries

The man for the big occasion and someone who always delivers on the big stage. The Inter Milan man is perfect for that wing-back role and he remains arguably their biggest attacking threat, despite the array of aforementioned attacking talent. 

He scored in their recent friendly with Ecuador to emphasise that point, and I think he’s going to be the standout Dutch player at this World Cup. 

Prediction: I do expect the Netherlands to do well in this group, and in the tournament in general. If they win the group, as they are favourites to do, then a potentially interesting tie against Morocco awaits in the last 32. I’ll back them to edge that one, before possibly facing South Korea in the last 16. 

If they win the group, they can go to the last eight. But I still wouldn’t back them to beat France or a truly elite team. Their defence is strong, but in attack they may just come up short - I mean there is a reason I’ve selected their right wing-back as the one to watch!

Japan

FIFA world ranking: 18

To win the group: 10/3

Japan are World Cup mainstays now, having appeared at every tournament since 1998. They’ve emerged as one of Asia’s strongest teams, but have never got beyond the round of 16, and with another knockout round added to this extended tournament, will have to be on top form to break that duck. 

Qualifying was dealt with comfortably, as they topped their first grop by winning six out of six, before picking up 23 points out of 30 in a group that contained Australia and Saudi Arabia. That sent them through as group winners and this is a squad with plenty of talent.

Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma has been left out by manager Hajime Moriyasu due to his hamstring injury but they have plenty of depth in every position. There’s a Premier League midfield of Ao Tanaka, Wataru Endo and Daichi Kamada who could all start, while up top, Celtic’s Daizen Maeda could feature along with Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda. 

Parma’s Zion Suzuki will play in goal, while experienced Ajax duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ko Itakura should feature in defence. Having progressed from the group at the last two World Cups, that has to be the primary aim again in North America. 

Key Player: Zion Suzuki

Takefusa Kubo hasn’t put up the numbers for Real Sociedad this term, and although I could pick one of the talented midfielders, I’m going for a left-field choice this one, and I’m going to pick out the goalkeeper.

Zion Suzuki joined Parma in the summer of 2024 and has established himself as the first-choice keeper. A broken hand ruled him out for a large chunk of this season, but now he is back fit, and this World Cup represents a bit of a homecoming for him. He was born in New Jersey to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, and has represented Japan at every level since U15s. 

At 23, he is playing in one of the best leagues in the world, and his ceiling is remarkably high. I’ve got no doubt that Japan’s outfielders can be competitive in this tournament, but it may be their goalkeeper who takes them to the next level. A penalty shootout win could shoot him to superstardom. 

Prediction: Japan could finish anywhere from top to bottom of this group, but I do think they will be tough to beat. I’ve got Japan finishing third in this group and progressing to the knockouts, but whether they finished second or third, a tough Round of 32 clash awaits. 

Their likely opponents would be France and that could spell the end of the road, while if they finish second then they could face Brazil. Unfortunately, they finish second or third, I think a relatively early knockout exit awaits. 

Sweden

FIFA world ranking: 38

To win the group: 4/1

Sweden failed to win a single game in their World Cup qualification group, and they will be eternally grateful for the Nations League. Having won their group in that competition, they qualified for the World Cup play-offs (I still don’t fully understand this either). 

In those play-offs, they dramatically beat Ukraine in the semis and Poland in the final, to book their place at the finals. They’ve only been at the 2018 World Cup since 2006, so this is now a bit of a rarity for Sweden.

You have to say some of their talent is now world class, with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak a talented front two, but Dejan Kulusevski misses out through injury. There are 11 British-based players including the likes of Gabriel Gudmundsson, Victor Lindelof, Yasin Ayari, Anthony Elanga and Lucas Bergval.

Getting the best out of this group is key for manager Graham Potter, who took the job in late 2025. They were strong in those play-off games but have underperformed for too long. With this group of players, they need to take this opportunity by the scruff of the neck.

Key Player: Viktor Gyokeres

Isak hasn’t looked great since his mega-money move to Liverpool so instead I will back Arsenal striker Gyokeres to make an impact at this tournament. Sweden are only here because of him, as he scored an 87th-minute winner against Poland, having hit an impressive hat-trick against Ukraine in the semi-final. 

Gyokeres’ stock has risen as the season has gone on, and he was brought in to win Arsenal the Premier League. Job done (almost), with 14 league goals in his first campaign. Potter will want to play through him, and take the pressure off Isak. Those two have to produce something for Sweden to succeed. 

Prediction: I’m going to be super positive about Sweden, and say that they can make it through to this group in second place. I believe that their individual quality might just be enough to beat Japan and Tunisia, which means a round of 32 clash against Brazil may await. 

That’s a really tough match-up, but this Brazil squad looks beatable so I’ll back a shock Sweden win in that one. I’ve then got them facing Norway in an all-Scandinavian clash in the last 16, which will probably be too much for them.

Tunisia

FIFA world ranking: 44

To win the group: 8/1

Tunisia were one of the most impressive qualifiers for the World Cup, as they topped their CAF group with a remarkable nine wins and one draw. More impressively, they didn’t concede a single goal during their qualification campaign, although the opposition must be taken into account. 

Namibia finished second in the group and they are ranked 120th in the world, while third-placed Liberia are 140th. It means this squad are the underdogs heading into this group, especially when you consider they underperformed at this season’s AFCON, getting knocked out by 10-man Mali on penalties in the last 16. 

Sami Trabelsi was sacked after that dismal showing and replaced by former Cardiff and Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi. A 1-0 win over Haiti and a 0-0 draw with hosts Canada have hardly got pulses racing.

In terms of the squad, Lamouchi has made big changes, with Rani Khedira the biggest addition having agreed to represent the Eagles of Carthage. Brother of Sami, he has performed well for Union Berlin and played in the last two friendlies. 

Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri and Norwich midfielder Anis Ben Slimane are included, along with Sheffield Wednesday’s Yan Valery, who spent the season on loan at Young Boys. 

Key Player: Ellyes Skhiri

Tunisia’s captain is the heartbeat of this side and I’m hopeful he will be able to step things up with the help of new arrival Khedira. Ellyes Skhiri has now been at Eintracht Frankfurt for three seasons and although a disappointing end to the season meant they finished eighth, he remains a key part of that side. 

He should shield the defence in the World Cup and is going to have to get through a lot of work, with Tunisia likely to be an extremely defensive side - targeting clean sheets. Skhiri is one of a handful of Tunisian players plying their trade in a top league, and should stand out. 

Prediction: There just isn’t enough evidence to suggest that Tunisia will be able to beat their group opponents. They may be able to scrape a couple of draws with strong defensive displays, but this group looks incredibly tough, and they could be beaten three for three. 

A couple of clean sheets may give them a chance, but it looks to be a big ask for this group and their new manager. 

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