Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Netherlands top Group F After Win over Tunisia

A positive result on two counts for the Dutch on Friday morning - their 3-1 win over Tunisia and Sweden's 1-1 draw with Japan means that Die Oranje have topped Group F.

A frantic start in Kansas City saw Ellyes Skhiri net an unfortunate own-goal within the first three minutes, just a few before Brian Brobbey added a second. Tunisia came back with more oomph in the second half with Hazem Mastouri getting one back, but Jan Paul van Hecke headed home a third to ensure a big win for Ronald Koeman and his men.

The result means the Netherlands will face Morocco in the Round of 32, and Tunisia will be going home as was decided after matchday 2.

Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands as it Happened

The game was off to a frantic beginning, with Tunisia coming so close to scoring a shock opener before blasting home into the wrong net.

A fine cut-back to the edge for Ghabri was lashed high over the bar, but captain Ellyes Skhiri would be looking sky-high immediately after. A wicked cross from the right by Denzel Dumfries came in with venom, but the defending Skhiri had his feet muddled up and inadvertently lashed the cross beyond his own keeper within the third minute.

And in the blink of an eye, the Dutch would have their second of the evening, one born out of the Premier League, before Tunisia even had a chance to react. A well-delivered free-kick from Tijjani Reijnders found Liverpool icon Virgil van Dijk at the back of the box. His header back across the area evaded all in white, and fell nicely at the feet of Sunderland's Brian Brobbey to lash home from close range for a quick-fire second.

Halftime Score - Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands

The Netherlands had completely dominated the first half, and came so close to getting themselves a third just a few minutes into the second. A clever cross in from the left was aimed at the dangerous Brobbey, who kept the ball alive as it fell kindly to the approaching Dumfries in the area. The new Real Madrid defender lashed his effort on goal, but Skhiri atoned for his error with an incredible block.

But Tunisia looked a lot more proactive and dangerous following the beginning of the second half, and would have the ball in the net against the run of play. From a corner, an excellent delivery from Hannibal Mejbri found Hazem Mastouri, who had evaded some absent defending from Reijnders. He made no mistake with the header, planting it beyond Verbruggen and into the bottom-left corner to hand Tunisia a lifeline.

But that lifeline would soon be dashed on the hour mark by Jan Paul van Hecke. It came from another corner, delivered well by Reijnders into the new Tottenham man at the near post. He met the header well and flicked it on goal, where it took a nasty deflection from Amine Ben Hamida on it's way through for 3-1.

The Tunisian bar would be left shaking shortly after through Reijnders in a solid second-half display. Goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen had flown off his line to punch a Frenkie de Jong pass away from danger. It fell straight to the Man City midfielder who looked to loft it over him from outside the area, but it rattled the underside of the bar before getting cleared well.

He had another chance almost immediately after - smart Dutch play had seen Brobbey again use his physicality on the edge of the area, where he would cut the ball back to the edge of the area where he lay in wait. He struck the ball with power towards the bottom-left corner, but Dahmen beat it away well before Yan Valery defended the rebounding chance excellently.

Full-time Score - Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands

Tunisia Player Ratings

• Aymen Dahmen - 6

• Yan Valery - 6

• Montassar Talbi - 5

• Ellyes Skhiri - 4

• Amine Ben Hamida - 5

• Ali Abdi - 6

• Rani Khedira - 6

• Ismael Gharbi - 5

• Hannibal Mejbri - 6

• Anis Ben Slimane - 7

• Hazem Mastouri - 8

Substitutes

• Elias Achouri (67') - 5

• Hadj Mahmoud (67') - 5

• Mortadha Ben Ouanes (67') - 6

• Firas Chaouat (75') - 5

• Sebastian Tounetki (90') - N/A

Netherlands Player Ratings

• Bart Verbruggen - 6

• Denzel Dumfries - 8

• Virgil van Dijk - 7

• Jan Paul van Hecke - 7

• Nathan Ake - 6

• Tijjani Reijnders - 8

• Ryan Gravenberch - 6

• Frenkie de Jong - 6

• Cody Gakpo - 7

• Donyell Malen - 7

• Brian Brobbey - 8

Substitutes

• Teun Koopmeiners (72') - 6

• Justin Kluivert (72') - 6

• Crysencio Summerville (72') - 7

• Memphis Depay (77') - 6

• Noa Lang (84') - 7

Man of the Match - Brian Brobbey

The Sunderland striker is in a fine mood at this World Cup, scoring with all three of the shots he has taken so far this summer.

He was in a bullish mood against the Tunisia backline, with his innate physicality being a consistent problem for the African side as they bowed out of the World Cup.

Bad Day at the Office - Ellyes Skhiri

He deserves plaudits for an incredible block against Dumfries later in the day, but Skhiri's day was a rough one after an own-goal in the opening minutes.

It set the tone for the match, and elsewhere he was no match in itself for the physicality and pace of the Netherlands' impressive attack.