World Cup Day 10: Netherlands cruise, Germany can clinch a place

The 10th day of the 2026 World Cup featured a dominant Dutch win, and set up a potentially decisive night for Germany. After an opening 2-2 draw with Japan, the Netherlands looked much sharper against Sweden and effectively secured progress to the next stage with a 5-1 rout.

Brian Brobbey, surprisingly handed a place in the starting lineup, scored twice in the first half. He opened the scoring in the 5th minute after a fine team move, then made it 2-0 in the 17th minute from close range. Cody Gakpo added a third early in the second half, with his second coming in the 54th minute after a solo run, before Anthony Elanga pulled one back and substitute Summerville finished the match in the 90th minute. The article notes that the pressure may have helped the Dutch, who had wanted to start the tournament with a confidence-building victory after reaching the quarterfinals in the previous World Cup.

Germany, coming off a 7-0 win over Curaçao, faces Ivory Coast in Toronto at 23:00 and can move closer to the knockout stage. Julian Nagelsmann’s side has not advanced from the group stage since winning the tournament in 2014, and Kai Havertz, who scored twice in the previous round, is chasing the top-scorer race. Ivory Coast is expected to defend deeply and try to strike on the counterattack, as it did in its opening win over Ecuador.

Earlier in Kansas City at 03:00, Ecuador meets Curaçao. Ecuador badly needs a big win after losing to Ivory Coast, while Curaçao is chasing a historic first point after already scoring its first-ever World Cup goal against Germany. The day ends, or begins, with Tunisia against Japan at 07:00 in Monterrey, a clash between Tunisia’s energy and fighting spirit and Japan’s structure and discipline, with both teams needing a win to stay in contention for second place.