Day 4 delivered the first genuine upset of the tournament. Japan beat Netherlands 2-1 in Philadelphia, leaning on a midfield press that the Dutch never figured out, and walked off the field knowing the route through Group F is now their own. Germany did what Germany were supposed to do against Curaçao, Ivory Coast edged Ecuador in a tight night game in Arlington, and Sweden grabbed three points off Tunisia in the SoFi nightcap. Two groups, four results, plenty to chew on.
Germany 3–0 Curaçao
Germany got the start everyone expected: a Florian Wirtz opener inside fifteen minutes, a Niclas Füllkrug header just before the half, and a Jamal Musiala goal off the bench in the second period to settle it. The score reads comfortable; the performance was slightly more revealing. Curaçao's low block held its shape for twenty minutes, and Germany were patient rather than ruthless, a choice that will be retroactively praised if they top the group and questioned if they tie Ecuador on matchday two. The injury concern to Joshua Kimmich, who came off at 70 minutes holding his hamstring, is the only sour note from MetLife.
Netherlands 1–2 Japan
The match of the day, and possibly of the tournament so far. Japan pressed hard from the first whistle, Junya Ito put them in front inside ten minutes off a turnover in the Dutch half, and Cody Gakpo equalised before the half with a confident finish across the keeper. The second half was the story. Netherlands had 64 percent of the ball and almost nothing to show for it; Japan's mid-block held its line and forced van Dijk into long passes that the Samurai Blue back four read all night. The winner came in the 73rd minute, a low Hidemasa Morita drive after a corner cleared poorly. Memphis Depay went off after 80 minutes looking visibly tired. Netherlands now face Sweden on matchday two needing a result.
Hajime Moriyasu's side now lead Group F and have a real chance to win it. The schedule does them a favour — Tunisia next, then Sweden in the final fixture.
Ivory Coast 2–1 Ecuador
The Africa Cup of Nations holders made their World Cup point. Simon Adingra opened the scoring inside thirty minutes with a curled finish from the left half-space, Kendry Páez levelled for Ecuador right before the hour, and Sébastien Haller drove home the winner in the 78th minute from a corner. The match was every bit the tense group-stage scrap it looked on paper. Ecuador now sit on zero points with Germany next — a brutal turn in the schedule. Ivory Coast leave with three points, a striker who looks back to his pre-injury self, and a real chance of stealing the second qualifying spot from a Netherlands–Japan side that is already wobbling.
Sweden 2–0 Tunisia
The late window stayed late. Sweden played the first 60 minutes at patient tempo, Alexander Isak hit the post twice, and the deadlock finally broke when Anthony Elanga slid in to convert a low cross from the right. Isak added his first World Cup goal four minutes later, finishing a counter the Tunisia defence never recovered from. Aymen Dahmen made eight saves; without him this was 4-0. Sweden look comfortable, organised, and exactly the kind of unflashy second seed that this format rewards.
What it all means going into Matchday 2
Two groups, two leaders nobody had pencilled in three days ago, and a tournament that has now produced upsets on three of the four days played. The schedule does some of the work — Netherlands face Sweden next, which is now a knockout — but the broader takeaway is consistent across the first week: the gap between the seeded sides and the rest of the field has tightened to a margin that punishes any team that does not show up.
- Germany vs Ecuador — was meant to be a top-of-group decider. Ecuador are now in must-win territory.
- Netherlands vs Sweden — the new Group F decider, and a fixture neither side wanted this early.
- Japan vs Tunisia — the path to top spot if Japan can repeat their pressing performance.
- Ivory Coast vs Curaçao — three points and Ivory Coast are likely through to the knockouts.
Day 5 brings Spain, Belgium and Uruguay onto the pitch. Live scores and group tables on the Scorelisto soccer hub, with the recap landing on the blog index by Tuesday morning.
FAQ
How did Germany win 3-0? Wirtz opened, Füllkrug headed in before the half, Musiala sealed it from the bench. Solid rather than spectacular.
Was the Japan win an upset? By rankings, yes — but Japan have a recent habit of taking down European sides at major tournaments. The pre-tournament line was Netherlands by 1.5 goals; Japan have now beaten Germany, Spain and Netherlands at World Cups since 2022.
Are Netherlands in trouble? They are not eliminated, but they cannot afford to lose to Sweden. A draw and they need the Japan–Tunisia result to go a certain way.
Where can I find Group F standings? Updated live on the Scorelisto soccer page through every kickoff.