Group E and Group F have their say on Saturday. Three games, two of them with serious knockout implications, and a Germany side that did not exactly soothe nerves with their opening performance against Curaçao. Here is who plays, what is at stake, and the angles that decide the night.
Netherlands vs Sweden — 13:00 ET, MetLife Stadium
The Dutch opened the tournament with a controlled 2-0 win over Tunisia. Memphis Depay scored once, set up Cody Gakpo for another, and Ronald Koeman declared himself satisfied with a midfield three that worked harder than it has in any qualifier this cycle. Sweden, meanwhile, came back from a goal down to edge Japan 2-1 — Alexander Isak's late winner the headline, the tactical work of the substitutes the real story.
Both teams know what is in front of them. Win and you are essentially through. Koeman is expected to keep faith with his opening eleven, with Tijjani Reijnders pulling the strings centrally and Frenkie de Jong dropping into the build-up. Sweden's question is up top. Isak will start. Whether Jesper Karlsson or Anthony Elanga partners him is the call. Either way, MetLife is the sort of crowd this fixture deserves — neutral, a bit Dutch-leaning, and packed.
Germany vs Ivory Coast — 16:00 ET, BMO Field, Toronto
Germany's opener against Curaçao was a 2-1 escape that flattered them. Julian Nagelsmann's side were second best for stretches of a game they had no business making difficult, and the conversation in the German press all week has been about the balance between Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala when both start centrally. Saturday is the answer, in real time, against a much better opponent.
Ivory Coast have arrived in better order than recent African tournament history would suggest. They drew 1-1 with Ecuador on Matchday 1 and looked the more dangerous of the two for the final half-hour. Sébastien Haller is fit again and starting up top. The midfield runners — Franck Kessié still at the heart of it — will make life difficult for Germany's centre-backs if Nagelsmann opts for the high line he wants. Germany should win. Whether they win comfortably is the actual question.
Ecuador vs Curaçao — 20:00 ET, Arrowhead Stadium
Curaçao's debut at a senior World Cup has not been a fairytale — they pushed Germany hard and lost — but it has been a long way from embarrassing. Ecuador, drawing with Ivory Coast on Matchday 1, are in the position of needing the three points that should be the easiest available to them all tournament. Enner Valencia leads the line. Moisés Caicedo anchors the midfield. Kendry Páez, the 19-year-old Chelsea-bound playmaker, gets his first World Cup start after coming off the bench last week.
The story under the lights at Arrowhead, beyond the result, will be Curaçao's resilience. They have nothing to lose. Patrick Kluivert's side defended deep against Germany and scored the equaliser that briefly made them the story of Matchday 1. Replicating that defensive shape against Ecuador's quicker forward line is the test.
How the groups can settle tonight
- Group F: A Netherlands win plus a Tunisia-Japan result the right side of a draw, and the Dutch are through. A Sweden win blows the group wide open with one matchday to play.
- Group E: A Germany win and an Ecuador win, and both top the group on six. A Germany slip turns the final matchday into a four-way scramble — exactly the chaos no one in Berlin wants.
- Best third-place picture: Four points is shaping up to be the cut-off. That means a draw tonight followed by a final-matchday win is still alive almost everywhere.
How to watch
FOX has Netherlands-Sweden and the Germany match in the early and late afternoon. Telemundo carries the full slate in Spanish. FS1 hosts Ecuador-Curaçao in the night window. Peacock and Fubo stream everything for cord-cutters, with featured camera angles for the marquee Germany fixture.
For full schedules and live tables across the day — the US Open Round 3 is also playing out at Shinnecock Hills — head to Scorelisto soccer scores or check the blog for the recap once the night is done.
FAQ
Can the Netherlands clinch a knockout spot on Saturday? Yes — a Netherlands win combined with a Tunisia draw or loss tomorrow against Japan locks the Dutch in with a game to spare.
Will Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala both start for Germany? Nagelsmann has hinted at a slight reshape with one of them slightly deeper. The expectation is yes, but with Wirtz a touch more central than he was on Matchday 1.
Is Curaçao really competitive at this level? Yes. They defended for 60 minutes against Germany and scored a legitimate equaliser. Curaçao are not a soft touch.
What time do Saturday's games kick off in the UK? 6 pm BST for Netherlands-Sweden, 9 pm BST for Germany-Ivory Coast, and 1 am BST on Sunday morning for Ecuador-Curaçao.