Group F looks on paper like one of the most intriguing of the 2026 World Cup, with four sides who will all fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.

The Netherlands may not have the attacking firepower of previous generations, but they have vast quality and experience in defence and midfield, and will start the group as the favourites to take top spot. But they face competition from a talented Japanese side who are ranked 18th in the world, a Swedish team with outstanding forward players, and a hard-to-beat Tunisian outfit.

With the newly expanded 48-team format, there is the potential for an odd situation in which it is preferable to qualify finishing third than it is to finish second, where Brazil are likely to await in the round of 32. It also means there will be a strong incentive to win the group, and that should make it all the more interesting to watch.

Group F fixtures

(all times BST)

14 June, 9pm: Netherlands v Japan – AT&T Stadium, Arlington

15 June, 3am: Tunisia v Sweden – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe

20 June, 6pm: Netherlands v Sweden – NRG Stadium, Houston

21 June, 5am: Japan v Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe

26 June, 12am: Sweden v Japan – AT&T Stadium, Arlington

26 June, 12am: Tunisia v Netherlands – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Netherlands

The Dutch may only be eighth favourites before the World Cup begins, according to most bookmakers, but they say defences win tournaments and Netherlands have one of the best in North America this summer.

The captain, Virgil van Dijk, is set to be paired with Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber in the heart of the backline alongside Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven at left-back and Denzel Dumfries – who is due to sign for Real Madrid from Inter – at right-back. That is before you get to Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

Ronald Koeman can call upon an impressive midfield, too, of Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders – it is just a pity for the Netherlands that Xavi Simons has been ruled out by injury.

Unusually for a Dutch team, it is the attacking options which are a little thin. But Donyell Malen found astonishing form on loan at Roma this season, scoring 14 goals since joining from Aston Villa in January, and he is likely to lead the line.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Denzel ‌Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky ⁠van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Guus Til (PSV Eindhoven), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Mats Wieffer (Brighton)

Forwards: ‌Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa ​Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)

Coach: Ronald Koeman

Star player – Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool: Liverpool’s holding midfielder has not had an outstanding season by his high standards, but he is one of the best in the world in his position when he’s on form, and will be key both in shielding the defence and carrying the ball upfield.

Breakout talent – Crysencio Summerville, West Ham: The 24-year-old is well known to Premier League fans and could now make an impact on the global stage with his pace and trickery on the ball.

Fifa ranking: 8.

Odds to win the World Cup: 16/1.

Japan

Japan have risen up the world rankings in recent years and find themselves inside the top 20 coming into this World Cup. Consecutive appearances in the knockout stages and wins over Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022 proved their ability to compete with the best in the world.

Hajime Moriyasu has built a well-organised team full of energy and technical craft, who beat England at Wembley in March. Expect to see Japan on plenty of lists of “dark horses” over the coming days.

Their squad play all over Europe, and perhaps most eye-catching this season has been Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, who won the Eredivisie Golden Boot scoring 25 goals in 31 games. The great disappointment for Japan is that Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma is injured and will miss the tournament.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Zion Suzuki (Parma)

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junosuke Suzuki (FC Copenhagen)

Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)

Forwards: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Ito Suzuki (Freiburg), Kento Shiode (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)

Coach: Hajime Moriyasu

Star player – Ayase Ueda, Feyenoord: Not many teams have such an in-form striker at the World Cup.

Breakout talent – Zion Suzuki, Parma: The young goalkeeper has established himself as No 1 for both Parma in Serie A and the Japan national team, and will be playing in his first World Cup.

Fifa ranking: 18.

Odds to win the World Cup: 40/1.

Sweden

Sweden were terrible in qualifying and failed to reach the World Cup through the traditional route. But they were handed another chance through the Nations League play-offs, and they took it in dramatic style when Viktor Gyokeres scored an 88th-minute winner to beat Poland in Stockholm and send Sweden to North America.

Graham Potter took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson in November and steered Sweden to play-off glory. Now his task is to get them out of this tough group – and he has plenty of attacking firepower to call upon.

Alexander Isak and Gyokeres make one of the most potent attacking forces at the World Cup, complemented by the pace of Anthony Elanga. Sweden’s hope is that they can outscore their opponents.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK), Viktor Johansson (Stoke), Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (Derby)

Defenders: Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Elliot Stroud (Mjallby AIF), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds), Herman Johansson (FC Dallas), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Erik Smith (St. Pauli)

Midfielders​: Yasin Ayari (Brighton), Lucas ‌Bergvall (Tottenham), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Besfort Zeneli (Union Saint-Gilloise), Jesper ​Karlstrom (Udinese), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Ken Sema (Pafos)

Forwards: Taha Ali (Malmo FF), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Alexander Isak (Liverpool)

Coach: Graham Potter

Star player – Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal: His four goals in two games propelled Sweden to the World Cup and, especially given Isak’s fitness issues this season, Gyokeres will be the key attacking player.

Breakout talent – Yasin Ayari, Brighton: The 22-year-old is the second-youngest player in Sweden’s squad and provides ballast in midfield, having already racked up 21 caps and three goals for his country. Also impressed for Brighton during their impressive Premier League campaign this term.

Fifa ranking: 38.

Odds to win the World Cup: 100/1.

Tunisia

Tunisia are the underdogs of the group but they have nothing to be afraid of. They beat France four years ago in Qatar and have repeatedly shown they can be difficult to play against, qualifying for the World Cup without conceding a single goal.

Manager Sabri Lamouchi is still getting to know his team after taking over in January, but the early signs suggest he will play a back four and prioritise young players. Tunisia’s goal is to reach the knockout stages for the first time, and it may be that one win is enough to progress in this newly expanded 48-nation format in which eight third-placed finishers go through to the round of 32.

Tunisia may also be better equipped than their Group F opponents to handle the heat of a North American summer.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien)

Defenders: Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir), Moutaz Neffati (Norrkoping), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Young Boys Berne)

Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich), Ismael Gharbi (Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Forwards: Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Khalil Ayari (Paris Saint-Germain), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala), Elias Saad (Hannover 96), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic)

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi

Star player – Hannibal Mejbri, Burnley: The Burnley midfielder is still only 23 but has developed into Tunisia’s talisman.

Breakout talent – Ismael Gharbi, Augsburg: Tipped to be the future of Tunisian future when he came through Paris Saint-Germain’s academy to the first team, but his career has stalled since moving to Braga and then Augsburg on loan. The 22-year-old has the platform to show his talent at the WOrld Cup this summer.

Fifa ranking: 46.

Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1.

Group F prediction

The Netherlands should win this group, although it may not be entirely smooth or straightforward. The big question is who comes second, and it will probably come down to that last game between Sweden and Japan. We’ll tip Sweden purely because Kaoru Mitoma’s injury blunts Japan’s attack, but Japan will progress as a third-placed side, with Tunisia missing out.

David Benavidez captured the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles last time out and ‘The Mexican Monster’ could be set to further add to his collection, after one world champion has been ordered to face him, or be stripped of his belt.

Having moved up from light-heavyweight and dethroned Gilberto Ramirez in sensational style last month, Benavidez is now in possession of the WBA (Regular) and WBC light-heavyweight world titles, as well as his newly claimed unified cruiserweight crown.

As a result, the 29-year-old has a decision on whether he should return to the light-heavyweight scene or remain up at cruiserweight, where he delivered an arguable career-best display last time out, with a showdown against Jai Opetaia being muted.

However, Benavidez has also been named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the cruiserweight division and ordered for a fight with WBC cruiserweight champion, Noel Mikaelian, another who has been linked to a clash with Opetaia.

Should Mikaelian refuse a title defence against Benavidez, WBC President has vowed to strip the Armenian of the belt, in an interview with BoxingScene.

“The WBC order is Mikaelian against Benavidez. That’s it. If he takes another fight, he is relinquishing his obligations with the WBC,”

“[There is no deadline] at this time. I’ll be talking to all the different managers. This is a top priority. I’m very much looking forward to making sure this happens.”

If Mikaeilian chooses to proceed with a fight against Opetaia and thus loses his world title, it is expected that Poland-born interim champion, Michal Cieslak, will benefit. He will either be elevated to full world champion and ordered for a first defence against Benavidez, or inserted into a contest for the vacant belt against the three-division world champion.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for £43m-rated Rafael Leao this summer after his expressed his want to leave AC Milan in the summer transfer window

Galatasaray have become the first club to submit an official proposal for Manchester United target Rafael Leao, after the forward confirmed he wants to leave AC Milan this summer.

Speaking in an interview with Sport TV on Saturday, Leao expressed his desire to quit Milan. The 26-year-old has spent the last seven years at the San Siro, scoring 80 goals and adding 65 assists in 291 matches.

Leao said: “I think I gave Milan everything I could give. It is a club that helped me grow a lot and supported me through difficult moments. I am happy to have left my mark on the club’s history.

“Everyone has their dreams, their challenges, the things they want, the goals they want to achieve. And I also want to take on a new challenge in a new league.”

United are among the long list of potential suitors for Portugal international Leao, with Michael Carrick keen to strengthen his forward line in preparation for a return to the Champions League.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Galatasaray are another club interested and it’s the Super Lig champions who have emerged as the first to make a move for Leao, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. However, the ex-Lille man is reluctant to make the move to Turkey, and is instead waiting on a Premier League side to enter the race.

Leao’s agent is said to have offered him to Arsenal, though the Premier League winners are yet to act on the proposal. United, meanwhile, are said to have registered an interest, but have not taken steps to materialise it.

With the World Cup on the horizon, Leao’s future is expected to be resolved once Portugal have finished at the tournament, as he is poised to have a big part to play in Roberto Martinez’s squad this summer.

When his focus is firmly back on his club career, Leao’s suitors are anticipated to come forward with offers, with Milan hoping to receive a fee of £43million, which would fall into United’s budget.

While United’s primary objective is to add a couple of central midfielders to their squad ahead of the new season, there is money available to bring more depth to the forward line and also at the back.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Though Matheus Cunha became United’s primary attacker on the left under Michael Carrick last season, he can also play up front and in the No.10 role, leaving room out for another versatile attacker – in Leao – to come into the squad.

United bosses have already added £38m to the transfer kitty as Hojlund’s Napoli move became permanent after the Serie A side qualified for the Champions League, while Marcus Rashford is set to be sold.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

One of the most in-demand fights in boxing right now is a light-heavyweight showdown between unified champion, Dmitry Bivol, and WBC ruler, David Benavidez, for the undisputed 175lb crown.

However, two-division world champion, Teofimo Lopez, believes that the fight could result in a ‘massacre’.

Bivol claimed the undisputed light-heavyweight world title when he avenged a defeat to Artur Beterbiev last February, but the Russian was stripped of the WBC marble soon after, with Benavidez elevated to world champion. 

‘The Mexican Monster’ has since gone on to claim the unified cruiserweight crown, but he maintains that he would be able to drop back down in weight in order to take on Bivol for undisputed honours.

Speaking on the Inside The Ring show, Lopez renamed Benavidez as ‘The Massacre Monster’ whilst discussing the potential fight, believing that the age difference between the two light-heavyweight champions could be a key factor in the outcome of the contest.

“I will call Benavidez, ‘The Massacre Monster’, because man, [that performance against Ramirez] was nasty. He is real nasty, he really is.”

“He [Benavidez] is coming into his prime, while the other one [Bivol] is on his way out. You have got to also think about those things.”

Bivol fulfilled his IBF mandatory by defending his belts against Michael Eifert last weekend, but the WBO have ordered him to take on their mandatory challenger, Callum Smith, in order to retain his WBO strap.

As a result, it seems as though a potential Bivol-Benavidez clash may have to wait until 2027, with Beterbiev also being considered for a trilogy affair.

The Indian cricket team’s plans for the ODI series against Afghanistan have suffered a major blow, with Virat Kohli reportedly ruled out of the three-match contest due to a hamstring injury. The series starts on June 13. Kohli was until recently playing in IPL 2026 for champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the final, Kohli could be seen in discomfort. A report in The Indian Express claimed that Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to replace Kohli in the Afghanistan series. Gaikwad is part of the India A squad travelling to Sri Lanka. If Gaikwad is picked, Rajat Patidar might get a look-in for the India A squad, which will travel to Sri Lanka for a tri-series involving Afghanistan.

The three-match series begins on June 13 in Dharamsala. Kohli suffered the injury during the IPL final, which his side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won on Sunday.

“He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. He got injured during the final. Scans have revealed a distal semimembranosus tendon tear,” a BCCI source told PTI.

A distal semimembranosus tendon tear is a rare hamstring injury affecting the thick tendon that attaches a muscle to the inner part of the shinbone, just below the knee.

Kohli, known for his unmatched fitness even at 37 years of age, was in stellar form in the IPL, where he steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second consecutive title. He hit the winning runs in the final against Gujarat Titans.

Reinventing his T20 game, Kohli amassed 675 runs in RCB’s triumphant campaign, including a hundred and five fifty-plus scores. Kohli’s absence will take the sheen off the upcoming series.

Though the former India captain is now a one-format player, he remains a top draw for fans worldwide. It is extremely rare for Kohli to miss games due to injury, given his exemplary fitness standards.

It also remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma is available for the whole series against Afghanistan. The opener was included in the squad subject to fitness after a hamstring injury affected his IPL appearances. Ever since both Kohli and Rohit retired from Tests last year, there has been immense speculation over their ODI future.

The next 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be held in South Africa in October-November 2027, and they would be included in the squad on the basis of their form and fitness leading up to the tournament.

The second ODI against Afghanistan will be played in Lucknow on June 17, followed by the third and final match in Chennai on June 20.

After the Afghanistan series, India’s next ODI assignment will be in England – a three-match series beginning on July 14.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 14 NRL game between Brisbane Broncos and
Gold Coast Titans. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Broncos vs.
Gold Coast Titans
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 6, 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans Odds

Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans Preview

A struggling Brisbane side will look to halt a four-game losing streak when it hosts fellow Queensland battlers Gold Coast in a derby that carries significant importance for both clubs. The defending premiers have endured a dramatic fall from grace over the past month, culminating in last week’s shock loss to St George Illawarra. Coach Michael Maguire has responded by making changes in the halves, while the absence of Pat Carrigan places additional pressure on Brisbane’s forward pack. The Titans have problems of their own, sitting near the foot of the ladder after five straight defeats and failing to score more than 12 points in their last four matches. Encouragingly for Gold Coast, Origin representatives Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jojo Fifita return. Brisbane has dominated recent meetings and, despite its poor form, this shapes as an opportunity to rediscover some confidence.

O’Neill used the friendly against the side ranked 80th in the world as a chance to give younger players a chance in the green and white shirt.

Both Liverpool’s Kieran Morrison and Arsenal’s Ceadach O’Neill made their senior debuts during the lacklustre match.

Stopper Luke Southwood also came off the bench at half-time to make just his second appearance, in what was the first ever meeting between the nations.

“That was Tom [Atcheson’s] first start and I thought he played terrific, Ciaron Brown was excellent in the back three and Ruairi McConville,” Northern Ireland boss O’Neill added.

“I thought young Ceadach O’Neill did really well when he came on and showed great strength to stay on the ball, but it was really good to see the togetherness of the group.

“Ethan Galbraith has not played since March and Ali McCann has not played after March and gave us a great shift as well. Right through the squad, they worked really hard to keep a clean sheet and win the game.”

Northern Ireland will now travel to Lille to face France in their final preparation match before the World Cup.

O’Neill added that there will be “no expectation” on his side on Monday (20:10 BST) against the nation who sit second in the Fifa rankings.

“They are certainly one of the major favourites for the World Cup,” he added.

“It will be a tough challenge and a different approach from our side, we will be as strong as we can be from the start.

“It is a great game, there is no expectation on us, but we have to give a good account of ourselves as well.”

For so long, it looked as though Robinson would never play for England again, certainly under this regime.

England explained his exile on grounds of conditioning, on a tendency to lose pace or hobble out of matches altogether. His skills were not in doubt – Robinson averaged less than 23 with the ball in his 20 previous Tests.

Humbled in Australia and in need of an attack leader, England returned to the 32-year-old. Robinson has benefitted from being given the captaincy at Sussex and admitted he has matured. If England had him bowling like this in Australia, how different might the Ashes have been?

Bowling the second over of the innings, Robinson found movement down the Lord’s slope, into left-hander Conway. After two balls, captain Stokes posted a short leg and Conway instantly played all around a full ball. Robinson roared with delight, while Conway was disgruntled to see the review showing the ball clipping leg stump.

Robinson’s length was immaculate. Facing his second ball, Williamson failed to get far enough forward, looping the catch to debutant Emilio Gay at short leg. Ravindra, another left-hander, was pinned by another nip-backer. The noise was deafening.

At 2-3, New Zealand were in disarray. Captain Tom Latham could have been run out by Stokes before he was lbw, getting only half-forward to Atkinson. Robinson showed his full array of skills to find seam movement up the slope, bowling Mitchell, who offered no shot.

When the pacey Tongue castled Tom Blundell, New Zealand were in danger of being dismissed before the close. Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 31, supported by Nathan Smith, somehow got them through without further loss.