The intense football day at the 2026 World Cup, held on June 20, will be remembered by fans as a series of upsets and historic achievements by debutants.
Defeat by the Netherlands: Sweden was defeated in Houston
The match in Houston turned into a showcase of the attacking power of the Netherlands national team. After a draw with Japan at the start, the "orange" team left no stone unturned in the defense of the Swedes, scoring five unanswered goals.
Goals from Bryan Brobbey, who scored on the 5th and 17th minutes, and Cody Gakpo, who scored on the 47th and 54th minutes, were the highlights of the winners' performance. The only goal of honor for Sweden was scored by Anthony Elnega on the 59th minute, but the Dutch ended the match with a precise strike from Kjellson Sammerwil. The final score 5:1 — a confident victory and a serious statement for exiting the group.
Germany secures a win against Ivory Coast and advances to the playoffs
The match in Toronto for the four-time world champions started poorly. On the 30th minute, captain of the Ivory Coast, Frank Kessié, opened the scoring. Moreover, in the first half, two goals of the Germans were disallowed due to rule violations.
However, the second half completely turned the course of the game. The main hero of the match was the substitute Denis Undav, who scored a brace. First, he equalized on the 68th minute, and then in added time, he scored the winning goal with a pass from Felix Nmecha. This determined victory with a score of 2:1 guaranteed the German team a place in the playoffs.
Historic point for Curaçao: "Web" of Eloy Rumah
The match between Ecuador and Curaçao in Kansas City became a real sensation. The debutant team of Curaçao managed to take points from one of the favorites of the group, drawing 0:0.
This result was possible thanks to an incredible performance of Curaçao's goalkeeper Eloy Rumah, who made 15 saves. Ecuador launched 28 shots on goal, but could not beat the goalkeeper, who literally became a "wall" in the path of the South American attack. This match will go down in history as the first for Curaçao at the World Cup, and it brought them their first point.
Japan crushes Tunisia in the 1000th World Cup match
In the 1000th match in the history of the World Cup, the Japanese team did not leave any chance for Tunisia, defeating them 4:0. "Blue Samurai" took control from the first minutes: on the 4th minute, Daichi Kamada opened the scoring, and on the 31st, Ayase Ueda doubled the lead.
In the second half, the Japanese continued to dominate: on the 69th minute, Junya Ito scored, and on the 83rd, Ueda scored a brace, setting the final score. This crushing victory allowed Japan to collect 4 points and catch up with the Netherlands in the group table of group F.
Tournament standings after matches on June 20
The results of these matches significantly changed the dynamics in groups E and F.
Group E
| Position | Team | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 6 | Advancing to the playoffs |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | 3 | |
| 3 | Ecuador | 1 | |
| 4 | Curaçao |
1 |
Group F
| Position | Team | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 4 | +4 (scored 7) |
| 2 | Japan | 4 | +4 (scored 6) |
| 3 | Sweden | 3 | |
| 4 | Tunisia | 0 |
Final outcome of the first ten days of the World Cup
The tenth day of the World Cup once again confirmed that this tournament does not tolerate stereotypes and that favoritism here is a relative concept. The German team, despite all doubts before the tournament, solved the task of advancing to the playoffs early, demonstrating character worthy of four-time champions. At the same time, Curaçao reminded the entire football world that there is a place for not only giants but also modest debutants ready to fight until the end.
In group F, a real battle for leadership unfolded: the Netherlands and Japan approached the end of the group stage with absolutely identical point totals, and only the goal difference placed the "orange" team at the top. Sweden, having lost with a crushing score, found itself on the edge of the abyss, while Tunisia, having scored no points, effectively lost its chances for continuation. Ahead lies the final rounds, which will set all the final points and determine the full composition of the playoff participants. One thing can be said for sure: the intrigue is only gaining momentum.