Key points to know
- The Netherlands are the favourites in the group with odds of 1.69 for first place.
- The Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia took part in 2022 and Sweden in 2018.
- Japan's odds of 1.60 to finish in the Top 2 are a good value bet.
- Tunisia is the only team in the group that has never reached the play-off stage.
- The main players to watch are M. Depay, W. Endo, V. Gyokeres, E. Skhiri.
- Group F is considered to be one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
Group F teams and schedule
Group F is one of the more interesting groups as it includes the Netherlands, who are predicted to reach the quarter-finals, as well as Japan, who reached the round of 16 in 2022, and Sweden, who are returning to the tournament and could pleasantly surprise.
Tunisia had no luck with the draw. There is a good chance of finishing last, although compared to the fourth-placed teams in the other groups, Tunisia looks one of the strongest.
The bookmakers' odds are for winning the group or finishing in the TOP 2:
| Team | Win the group | TOP 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1,69 | 1,20 |
| Japan | 4,30 | 1,60 |
| Sweden | 5,00 | 1,90 |
| Tunisia | 10,20 | 5,50 |
Sweden v Tunisia and Tunisia v Japan will be played in Guadalupe, Mexico, while the other four games will be played in the USA in Arlington, Houston and Kansas City. The full schedule is below (times in Lithuanian time, GMT+3 in summer).
| Matches | Date and time (LT) |
|---|---|
| Netherlands – Japan | 14 June, 23:00 |
| Sweden – Tunisia | 15 June, 05:00 |
| Netherlands – Sweden | 20 June, 20:00 |
| Tunisia – Japan | 21, 07:00 |
| Japan – Sweden | 26 June, 02:00 |
| Tunisia – Netherlands | 26 June, 02:00 |
Favourites and outsiders in Group F
The Netherlands are the favourites in Group F, but neither Japan nor Sweden can be written off prematurely. The group looks like one of the most competitive, so it will be very interesting to see if Tunisia can bring chaos and take points away from their opponents.
Netherlands
The Netherlands don't have as deep a talent bank as Spain or France, but the roster still contains enough high level footballers around whom the whole game revolves. Virgil van Dijk, who will celebrate his 35th birthday during the tournament, still plays a key role.
The injuries to Xavi Simons and Matthijs de Ligt are a big loss for the team, but the good news is that Jurrien Timber has recovered. at the 2022 World Cup, the Netherlands lost in the quarter-finals to future champions Argentina only after a series of penalties. At EURO 2024, they lost 1:2 to England in the semi-finals. The team can compete against the strongest teams in the world.
Japan
in the 2022 World Cup, Japan lost to Croatia in the round of 16 only after a penalty shootout, but still managed to beat Germany and Spain 2-1 before the play-offs. While four years ago these results would have been a huge surprise, now Japan has earned respect and a strong showing in the tournament would no longer be considered a surprise.
At the end of March, Japan played two friendlies, beating Scotland 1-0 and then beating England by the same score at Wembley Stadium. For full official tournament details, see FIFA's official 2026 tournament page.
Japan will be without a few key players, such as Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino, due to injuries, but both in Group F and in the tournament as a whole the Japanese could be a pleasant surprise.
Sweden
Sweden came very close to missing the World Cup again, but managed to escape through the extra qualification route. In the qualifiers, the Swedes competed in Group B where they finished last. In six matches against Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia, Sweden did not win a single game, drew two and scored just 2 points. However, they qualified for the extra round via the Nations League.
In the extra qualifying round, Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 and then Poland 3-2. In the semi-final against Ukraine, the Swedes played without Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski, while Viktor Gyokeres scored all three goals. Sweden arrive at the 2026 tournament in a very positive mood, with a new coach in Graham Potter and the aim of at least fighting for a place in the round of 32.
Tunisia
Tunisia is playing in its fourth consecutive World Cup, which clearly reflects the stability of the team. However, the results show that the talent to compete with the strongest teams in the world is still lacking.
Tunisia has had no luck with the group – last place looks the most realistic here, although the Tunisians could bring a lot of chaos in the other groups. Not much is expected from the team. It may unexpectedly beat one of its opponents or play a draw, but one good game should not be enough to qualify for the next round.
Players to watch in Group F
Group F is one of the most intriguing groups, with the Netherlands and Japan, who are expected to have a strong performance in the play-offs. Sweden could also surprise with a high level of players.
Virgil van Dijk, Jurrien Timber, Tijjani Reijnders and Frenkie de Jong are the clear standouts in the Netherlands. In attack, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo are key.
Japan will play without Kaoru Mitoma, which is a big loss. Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, Wataru Endo of Liverpool and Takehiro Tomiyasu of Ajax are worth mentioning.
For the Swedish team, the strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres must be mentioned. Benjamin Nygren and Gabriel Gudmundsson are also worthy of note.
In Tunisia, the key players are Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri and Montassar Talbi. Elias Achouri and Rani Khedira are also worth mentioning.
Highlights of Group F
Group F is one of the most competitive groups. Even Tunisia, which is likely to finish in fourth place, can bring chaos. The Netherlands and Japan stand out as teams that can go far in the play-offs. Sweden return to the World Cup without any added pressure, and with their individual talent in attack can beat any group opponent on a good day.
There are a number of good value bets in the group, but the one that stands out the most is to pick Tunisia for fourth place, with odds of 1.80 offered on this bet. Although the team is quite solid, it lacks stability against higher level opponents. The group is too strong for Tunisia to finish at least third.
The first and fourth places may start to emerge already on the first day, with the Netherlands and Japan meeting each other, as well as Sweden and Tunisia. Group F will be one of the most intriguing groups from the very first game.
Betting perspective
Group F has a balanced level between the three strongest teams, so the market is worth looking at secondary betting areas. With the style of the low-scoring teams (Tunisia, Japan), the alternative is over under betting – especially “less” selections against cautious teams.
For a full list of participants with all groups, please see the FIFA World Cup 2026 participant article. When choosing a platform for the tournament, it is worth comparing the best betting companies.
Responsible betting on the tournament
The World Cup lasts almost six weeks and matches are played almost every day. This rhythm increases the risk of chasing losses or betting just for fun. Practical advice is provided by the responsible gambling guide.
Group F FAQ
Which teams are in Group F
The teams in Group F are the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
Who are the main favourites to win Group F
Netherlands. The bookmakers offer odds of 1.69 for them to win the group.
Which teams are predicted to qualify for the next round from Group F
Netherlands and Japan. The Netherlands are the clear favourites for TOP 2, while Japan's main rival will be Sweden. There is a chance that as many as three teams will qualify from the group to the round of 32 if Tunisia loses all three matches.
Which is the most important match of Group F
The third match of the group is between Japan and Sweden. It will take place on 26 June at 02:00 Lithuanian time and should decide the fate of second place and direct qualification to the round of 32.
Which team could be the biggest surprise in Group F
Japan. Although the Netherlands are the leading team in the group, the Japanese could surprise and not only qualify for the next round, but even finish first in the group.
What makes Sweden's qualification path special
Sweden finished last in the qualifying group with just 2 points. They qualified for the extra qualifying round via the Nations League, beating Ukraine 3-1 and Poland 3-2 in the final. It was one of the most dramatic qualifiers of the tournament.
Which cities will host the Group F matches
Two matches (Sweden – Tunisia and Tunisia – Japan) will take place in Guadalupe, Mexico. The remaining four matches will be played in the USA in Arlington, Houston and Kansas City.
Which bets have the best value in Group F
Bookmakers are offering odds of 1.80 for Tunisia to finish fourth in the group. Considering the strength of the group, this is considered one of the best value bets in Group F.
