Action in Groups E and F kicked off at FIFA World Cup 2026™ as the tournament rolled into it’s fourth day. 

A statement performance from European powerhouse Germany, a thrilling draw between the Netherlands and Japan, and wins for Cote d’Ivoire and Sweden highlighted the action.

Group E

Germany 7 Curacao 1

Four-time champions Germany opened in emphatic fashion with a commanding 7-1 victory over Curaçao in Houston, underlining their status as one of the tournament favourites. While the scoreline ultimately told the story of German dominance, the match did provide a brief moment of hope and history for the Caribbean side.

Germany struck first through Felix Nmecha in the sixth minute, but Curaçao responded brilliantly in the 21st when Livano Comenencia found the equaliser. The goal was a landmark moment for the tournament minnows, giving Curaçao its first goal of the competition and sparking wild celebrations among their supporters as the sides briefly stood level.

That resistance, however, was short-lived. Germany regained control before the break, with Nico Schlotterbeck restoring the lead in the 38th minute before Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time to make it 3-1 at halftime. From there, the Europeans pulled away, as Jamal Musiala scored early in the second half and Nathaniel Brown plus Deniz Undav added further goals to put the result beyond any doubt.

Havertz completed his brace with a late second to cap a ruthless German performance and seal a 7-1 triumph.

 

 

 

Cote d’Ivoire 1 Ecuador 0

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Côte d’Ivoire opened its Group E campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia.

Ecuador hit the crossbar twice in the opening half-hour before Cote d’Ivoire gradually took hold of the game which was goalless at the break.

Côte d’Ivoire increased the pressure in the  second half  and was finally rewarded with a powerful left footed strike from substitute Diallo, on the stroke of injury time.

The result gives Côte d’Ivoire an ideal start in Group E and early momentum in the race to reach the knockout stage. The result ends Ecuador’s 19 match unbeaten run and leaves them with plenty of work to do to make the knockout rounds.

Group F

Netherlands 2 Japan 2

Japan twice came from behind to draw with the Netherlands in a pulsating Group F opener in Dallas.

Both sides had 10 shots in a quality encounter with Saichi Kamada’s late header securing a deserved point for Japan, with all four goals coming after the break.

Veteran Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk headed the Dutch in front soon after the interval before Keito Nakamura equalised with a stunning effort from outside the box six minutes later. Crysencio Summerville blasted the Netherlands back in front before Kamada struck a minute from time to earn a share of the spoils.

Sweden 5 Tunisia 1

Yasin Ayari lit the Monterrey stadium up with two wonder strikes to lft Sweden to a 5-1 win over Tunisia in Monterrey.

The Swedes who had a dismal UEFA qualifying campaign before beating Poland in a playoff to book their ticket to North America, make a cracking start with a thunderbolt stroke from outside the box from Ayari,  before Alexander Isak doubled the lead with another long range effort that the Tunisian keeper probably should have kept out.

The North Africans had a lifeline just before the break when Omar Rekik pulled a goal back with a well placed header.  Sweden restored their tewo goal cushion a quarter of an hour into the second half when Isak pounced on a Tunisian defensive error and fed Arsenal striker Victor Gyökeres who made no mistake with a calm finish. Substitute Mattias Svanberg scored a fourth for Sweden 18 seconds after coming onto the pitch before Ayari scored a brilliant second to complete the rout.

Results 

Group E

Germany 7 (Felix NMECHA 6′, Nico SCHLOTTERBECK 38′, Kai HAVERTZ 45+5′, Jamal MUSIALA 47′, Nathaniel BROWN 68′, Denis UUNDAV 78′, Kai HAVERTZ 88′) Curacao 1 (Livano COMENENCIA 21′)

Cote d’Ivoire 1 (Amad DIALLO 90’) Ecuador 0

Group F 

Netherlands 2 (Virgil VAN DIJK 51’, Crysencio SUMMERVILLE 64’) Japan 2 Keito NAKAMURA 57’, Daichi KAMADA 89’)

Sweden 5 (Yasin AYARI 7’,90+6′, Alexander ISAK 30’ Victor GYÖKERES 59′  Mattias SWANBERG  84′) Tunisia 1 (Omar REKIK 43′)

Coming up

Tuesday 16 June

Spain v Cabo Verde 4am NZT

Belgium v Egypt 7am NZT

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay 10am NZT

Iran v New Zealand 1pm NZT

(Photo Credits FIFA via Getty Images)