KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An amazing day for Dutch soccer in KC ended with a 3-1 victory over Tunisia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium.
A gigantic pre-game “fan walk” — a cherished Netherlands tradition that follows the team everywhere — drew tens of thousands downtown earlier Thursday. The jubilant procession was prelude to the evening’s main event — a match with plenty on the line for the Dutch side.
The Netherlands entered the day tied with Japan atop the Group F standings. But the Dutch had the better draw for the final game. Japan took on Sweden, while Netherlands played Tunisia.
Tunisia entered the game already eliminated from contention for a spot in the knockout round. The North African team had been outscored 9-1 in its first two World Cups games.
While Tunisia’s World Cup journey has come to an end, the Netherlands moves on to the knockout stage and a showdown against Morocco on Monday, June 29 in Monterrey, Mexico. The winner of that game takes on the winner of a match between Canada and South Africa on July 4 in Houston.
The Dutch will continue to train at the Kansas City Current’s practice facility in Riverside as they bid for another deep run. In 2022, Holland reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Argentina. The Netherlands finished third in 2014 and second — for the third time — in 2010.
The Dutch took control early on Thursday, with some good fortune: In the third minute, Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri delivered an own-goal.
Four minutes later, Brian Brobbey, who scored twice against Sweden, took a ball off the head of captain Virgil van Dijk and slammed it into the back of the net.
Tunisia got one back early in the second half off a set piece. Hazem Mastouri elevated for the header off a corner kick to make it 2-1 in the 54th minute.
At this point, the Dutch were not assured of winning the group. Japan had scored first to put pressure on Team Netherlands.
But in the 62nd minute, defender Jan Paul van Hecke put the top of his scalp on a corner kick for Netherlands’ third and final goal. A few minutes later, Sweden tied Japan and that game ended 1-1.
The Dutch were on their way to finishing first in their group and completing a memorable day in Kansas City.