Netherlands face Sweden on Saturday, June 20 at NRG Stadium in Houston, a Group F showdown at the Football World Cup that could decide who takes control of the race for top spot. Sweden sit first in Group F with three points and a plus four goal difference after thrashing Tunisia 5 1 in their opener, while the Netherlands sit third on a single point after a 2 2 draw with Japan in which they led twice but could not hold on.
In this blog you will find everything you need to know about how to watch and stream the Netherlands vs Sweden Football World Cup match online, along with kick off time, team news, full squad lists, broadcast options, and a complete tactical preview.
Key Details
- Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
- Kick off Time: 12:00 PM CT Houston (1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM BST UK, 7:00 PM CEST Amsterdam and Stockholm)
- Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Where to Watch: Fox and FS1 (USA) | BBC and ITV (UK) | TSN and CTV (Canada) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India)
Where to Watch Netherlands vs Sweden Football World Cup Match?
Fox and FS1 carry the match in the United States, with BBC and ITV sharing rights in the United Kingdom, TSN and CTV covering Canada through Bell Media, SBS handling Australia, and Zee5 streaming the game in India.
Coverage on Fox, BBC, ITV, SBS, TSN and CTV is free to air for viewers in those territories, while Telemundo and Universo provide Spanish language coverage in the United States alongside the paid Peacock streaming app.
How to watch Netherlands vs Sweden with a VPN
If the match is unavailable or geoblocked in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the streaming home of ITV in the United Kingdom. ITVX is restricted to UK viewers, so a VPN is needed to give your device a British IP address and bypass the geoblock.
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app on your device.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in, or create a free account if you do not have one.
- Search for Netherlands vs Sweden and start streaming the match live.
Netherlands Vs Sweden Football World Cup Team News
Netherlands Team News
Ronald Koeman is the Netherlands head coach, serving his second spell in the role since January 2023 after succeeding Louis van Gaal following the Qatar 2022 tournament. Koeman previously managed the Dutch national team between 2018 and 2020, and as a player he won Euro 1988 and represented the Netherlands at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, captaining the side in the latter.
The Netherlands won Group G of qualifying unbeaten, scoring 27 goals across eight games with only Poland able to hold them to a draw on either occasion. They opened the tournament with a 2 2 draw against Japan in Dallas, twice taking the lead through Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville before Daichi Kamada equalized in the 89th minute.
Ahead of the tournament, the Netherlands beat Uzbekistan 2 1 in a final warm up friendly but lost 1 0 to Algeria in the days before that. Jurrien Timber was ruled out of the entire World Cup with a persistent groin injury, confirmed by the Dutch federation in early June, with Lutsharel Geertruida called up as his replacement.
Playmaker Xavi Simons will also miss the tournament after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April, a significant blow to Koeman’s attacking options in the final third. Memphis Depay, the nation’s all time leading scorer, is fully recovered from a thigh injury and featured as a second half substitute against Japan, putting him in direct competition with Donyell Malen for a starting spot against Sweden.
Captain Virgil van Dijk continues to anchor the defense alongside Micky van de Ven, while Frenkie de Jong serves as vice captain and the controlling presence in midfield. Koeman is expected to set his side up in a 4 3 3 formation, with Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders completing the midfield trio and Cody Gakpo leading the attacking line.
Sweden Team News
Graham Potter is the Sweden head coach, appointed in October 2025 after Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked following a 1 0 home defeat to Kosovo that left Sweden bottom of their qualifying group. A fluent Swedish speaker, Potter previously managed Ostersund in Sweden between 2011 and 2018 before later spells at Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham in England.
Sweden finished bottom of their initial qualifying group but won their UEFA Nations League group to earn a play off route to the tournament. Potter then guided the team through the play offs, beating Ukraine 3 1 in the semi final, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring a hat trick, before defeating Poland 3 2 in the final to end Robert Lewandowski’s hopes of a farewell World Cup at age 37.
Sweden opened the tournament in style, beating Tunisia 5 1 in Monterrey with Yasin Ayari scoring twice, including a stunning long range strike in the sixth minute and another deep into stoppage time. Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and substitute Mattias Svanberg also found the net, with Svanberg scoring just 18 seconds after coming off the bench.
Captain Victor Lindelof has worn the armband since August 2021 and brings 75 caps of experience after joining Aston Villa from Manchester United last summer. Striker Alexander Isak missed nearly five months, including the March play off matches, after fracturing his fibula in a December tackle from current Netherlands defender Micky van de Ven, but he returned to full fitness in time for the Tunisia win, contributing a goal and two assists.
Midfielder Dejan Kulusevski was left out of the squad entirely, having not played since last May following knee surgery, while defender Emil Holm withdrew with a late injury and was replaced by Herman Johansson. Potter is expected to stick with the same attacking blueprint that worked against Tunisia, pairing Isak and Gyokeres up front behind a midfield built around Ayari, Mattias Svanberg and Lucas Bergvall.
Netherlands World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen, Mark Flekken, Robin Roefs
- Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Denzel Dumfries, Nathan Ake, Jan Paul van Hecke, Jorrel Hato, Lutsharel Geertruida
- Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders, Teun Koopmeiners, Marten de Roon, Quinten Timber, Guus Til, Mats Wieffer
- Attackers: Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen, Justin Kluivert, Brian Brobbey, Noa Lang, Crysencio Summerville, Wout Weghorst
Sweden World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
- Defenders: Hjalmar Ekdal, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Isak Hien, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Victor Lindelof, Eric Smith, Carl Starfelt, Elliot Stroud, Daniel Svensson
- Midfielders: Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Mattias Svanberg, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Herman Johansson
- Forwards: Taha Ali, Alexander Bernhardsson, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Ken Sema
Netherlands VS Sweden Match Preview
Saturday’s clash at NRG Stadium in Houston is a Group F decider between two European sides with contrasting starts, the Netherlands looking for their first win of the tournament and Sweden chasing a result that would all but confirm their place in the knockout rounds. The two countries have history at major tournaments stretching back to a goalless draw at Euro 2004, the only previous meeting between them at a major finals.
The Netherlands arrive having topped their qualifying group unbeaten but stumbled to a draw in their opener, leaving Koeman’s side with work to do to control their own group stage destiny. Sweden, by contrast, needed the play offs just to reach North America but have looked transformed under Potter, scoring five goals in their very first match of the competition.
Pressure sits heavier on the Dutch side, who know that anything less than a win would leave their final group game against Tunisia loaded with significance. Sweden, sitting top of Group F, can effectively secure their spot in the round of 32 with another strong result here, adding extra motivation to an already confident squad.
Tactical Outlook
The Netherlands are expected to press high and look to dominate possession through Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch, using the pace of Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville to attack in behind Sweden’s back line. Sweden, in turn, look well suited to a more direct counter attacking approach, getting the ball quickly to Isak and Gyokeres and trusting their strike partnership to create chances in transition.
The standout individual matchup pits Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres against Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven, with extra intrigue given that Van de Ven was the man whose December tackle fractured Isak’s fibula. For the Netherlands to win, their midfield must deny Sweden’s forwards service, while Sweden will hope wide threats like Anthony Elanga can stretch the Dutch defense and create space centrally for their front two.
Football World Cup Match Schedule
The table below shows the run of matches either side of the Netherlands vs Sweden fixture across the Football World Cup group stage.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 20 | Netherlands vs Sweden | Houston |
| June 20 | Brazil vs Haiti | Philadelphia |
| June 20 | Turkiye vs Paraguay | San Francisco |
| June 20 | Germany vs Cote d’Ivoire | Toronto |
| June 21 | Ecuador vs Curacao | Kansas City |
| June 21 | Tunisia vs Japan | Monterrey |
| June 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in 2026 Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the 2026 Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The match kicks off on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with a 12:00 PM Central Time start.
Both nations are in Group F alongside Japan and Tunisia, with the Netherlands playing all three group games in Dallas, Houston and Kansas City.
The Netherlands drew 2 2 with Japan in their tournament opener after winning a 2 1 warm up friendly against Uzbekistan and losing 1 0 to Algeria in their final preparations.
Sweden’s attack is led by the strike partnership of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, who combined for a goal and two assists between them in the 5 1 win over Tunisia.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, though it may breach the terms of service of certain streaming platforms, so always check local regulations and platform rules before connecting.
Across their last five documented meetings, the Netherlands have won three and drawn two, with Sweden yet to beat the Netherlands in that span and a 2017 qualifier standing as the most recent competitive result between the sides.
