The final round of World Cup Group F matches settled a straightforward question at the top and a tense one in the middle: the Netherlands marched on as group winners, while Japan and Sweden both did enough to advance, leaving Tunisia to exit without a point.
Netherlands too strong for Tunisia
At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Netherlands made an early statement, going ahead in the third minute through an own goal before Brian Brobbey added a second soon after, the group records show. Tunisia, chasing their first goal of the tournament, responded through a second-half header from Hazem Mastouri, but defender Jan Paul van Hecke restored the two-goal margin and the Dutch closed out a 3-1 win.
It capped a comfortable group campaign for the Netherlands, who finished on seven points. Tunisia, beaten in all three matches, ended bottom on zero — a dispiriting end to a tournament in which they had hoped to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.
Japan and Sweden share the spoils
In Dallas, the equation was tighter: Japan needed only a draw to be sure of second place, while Sweden needed to win. Japan's Daizen Maeda broke the deadlock in the second half, only for Anthony Elanga to level for Sweden minutes later, FIFA's match centre confirmed. Sweden pushed for a winner late — a header struck the crossbar in stoppage time — but the 1-1 result stood, enough for Japan to take second and, under the expanded tournament's rules, for Sweden to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
Final standings and what's next
The Netherlands topped the group on seven points, ahead of Japan on five and Sweden on four, with Tunisia eliminated, Yahoo Sports reported. All three qualifiers now turn to the round of 32, where the margin for error disappears. The Netherlands, unbeaten and free-scoring in the group, arrive among the tournament's more convincing sides; Japan, also unbeaten, will fancy their chances of another deep run; and Sweden, who squeezed through in third, will know how close their final-day equaliser came to lifting them higher.
