Netherlands run riot to set World Cup benchmark as Spain face early pressure after opening stumble

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters a pivotal stage, the stakes are rising sharply and early slip-ups are beginning to carry real consequences.

After an embarrassing group-stage exit in 2022, Germany have returned to the World Cup finals with a vengeance.

Julian Nagelsmann’s men once again showed that football really is a game played over 90 minutes where the Germans always win, as they fought back from a 1-0 half-time deficit to beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 and lock in a knockout berth with a game to spare.

Stuttgart stalwart Deniz Undav notched up a match-winning brace off the bench to inspire Die Mannschaft to another win, propelling them to the round of 16 with a game to spare.

In the other Group E fixture, Curacao staged a major upset.

After being humbled by Germany on the opening day, the Caribbean nation bounced back in impressive fashion, frustrating Ecuador in a goalless draw in Kansas City.

Stay with us as we break down the biggest stories so far and look ahead to another exciting day in North America.

Flying Dutchmen put Swedes to the sword for World Cup record

After a frustrating start to their Group F campaign, the Netherlands made a statement in round two, putting five goals past Sweden, who failed to build upon a 5-1 rout of Tunisia on matchday one.

In fact, Graham Potter’s charges found themselves on the receiving end of that same scoreline at NRG Stadium, significantly compromising their chances of securing a top-two finish ahead of a ‘make or break’ clash against Japan.

Ronald Koeman’s decision to restore Bryan Brobbey paid off in a big way, as the Sunderland striker put the Dutch in front with a quick-fire first-half double, with his second goal marking his country’s 100th at the World Cup.

Reluctant to rest on their laurels, the Oranje continued in the same vein after the half-time break, though this time Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo stole the spotlight, bagging his own double to make it 4-0 less than ten minutes into the second half.

Anthony Elanga scored a consolation goal for the Swedes before Crysencio Summerville netted another late World Cup goal to seal the Netherlands’ emphatic victory, extending their unbeaten run at the most prestigious international tournament to 14 matches, penalties excluded.

In doing so, the Dutch shattered the previous record set by the legendary Brazil side between 1958 and 1966, heightening their spirits ahead of a day-three showdown against Tunisia.

Beleaguered Spain can make no mistake against Saudi Arabia

Arguably the most fancied side to lift the trophy ahead of the tournament faltered at the first hurdle as Haiti held reigning European champions Spain to a stunning 0-0 draw at the start of Group H.

While veteran Chaves goalkeeper Vozinha made the headlines, becoming one an overnight online sensation, Luis de la Fuente was left scratching his head, as his side failed to capitalise on a record-breaking 74% possession.

Vozinha’s heroics between the sticks made La Furia Roja make an unwanted piece of World Cup history, boasting the fourth-highest possession figure without finding the net in the finals since 1966.

Needless to say, the pressure is now at an all-time high, not least because the Iberian giants bid to halt an underwhelming four-game winless run at the World Cup and, at the same time, extend their ongoing unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

There’s hardly a more favourable opposition than Saudi Arabia, given that Spain have won all three previous meetings between the sides, including a narrow 1-0 triumph at the 2006 World Cup.

It would take something special from the Green Falcons to flip the script this time around, even though they fought bravely in a 1-1 draw against Uruguay on the opening day.

Pulling off another miracle would see them take a huge step towards reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 1994, when the tournament was also staged in the United States.

That could prove easier said than done, as they’ve suffered a staggering ten defeats in their last 11 World Cup games against UEFA opposition.

Belgium fight to stave off another disappointment

Once regarded as one of the top contenders for football’s grandest prizes, Belgium have developed a nasty habit of flopping at major tournaments, and the start of this summer’s event has been no different.

Egypt held De Rode Duivels to a gut-wrenching 1-1 draw in Seattle, making their lives in Group G more complicated than expected ahead of this must-win clash in Los Angeles.

Winless in their last three World Cup outings, Belgium can at least take confidence from having avoided defeat in 14 consecutive matches since March 2025.

However, Rudi Garcia’s side must now extend that run with a win if they’re to avoid the ignominy of bowing out in the group stages, just like they did in Qatar four years ago.

Despite their strong pre-match favouritism, Belgium cannot afford to take anything for granted against Iran, a nation grappling with ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and eager to give those back home something to cheer about.

Iran demonstrated their fighting spirit in their opening Group G fixture, battling back from a narrow deficit twice to hold New Zealand to a dramatic 2-2 draw.

While this promises to be a much taller order, Iran will hope that the same resilience shown against New Zealand can carry them through another stern test against a more highly esteemed opposition.

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What to watch

With the margin for error reduced to a minimum, both Spain and Belgium will be under pressure to deliver on Sunday and prove that day-one slip-ups were nothing more than a flash in the pan.

De la Fuente no longer has the luxury of keeping Lamine Yamal on the bench, with the Barcelona prodigy completing more dribbles than any other La Furia Roja star despite entering the fray in the 71st minute.

On the other hand, Garcia may turn to Romelu Lukaku, who became Belgium’s joint-third most-capped player of all time against Egypt.

The robust striker made a significant impact off the bench in that match, and it may prove enough to earn him a starting berth in this high-stakes clash.