The 2026 World Cup delivered three thrilling matches Sunday evening and into Monday morning. Ivory Coast snatched a valuable 1-0 victory against Ecuador thanks to a late goal from Amad Diallo. In Group F, the Netherlands and Japan played to a spectacular 2-2 draw, before Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1.
Ivory Coast – Ecuador: Diallo emerges in the 90th minute
Ivory Coast kicked off their World Cup campaign with a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory against Ecuador. After being held at bay for much of the match, the Elephants waited until the final minutes to break the deadlock. The only goal of the game came in the 90th minute. Following a run down the right flank by Wilfried Singo, Amad Diallo received the ball just outside the penalty area. The Ivorian winger calmly slotted the ball past the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. Prior to this goal, Ecuador had several clear-cut chances. The South Americans hit the woodwork and for a long time looked like they could turn the game around. Ivory Coast held firm, then punished their opponents in the decisive moment.
Netherlands – Japan: four goals, two Japanese comebacks
The Group F clash between the Netherlands and Japan ended in a spectacular 2-2 draw. After a goalless first half, the game burst into life after the break. The Netherlands opened the scoring in the 51st minute through Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch captain used his presence in the box to head home the decisive goal and give the Oranje the lead. Japan responded six minutes later. In the 57th minute, Keito Nakamura equalized for the Samurai Blue, completely reigniting the match. The Japanese didn't panic after conceding and immediately increased their intensity. The Netherlands regained the lead in the 64th minute thanks to Crysencio Summerville. The Dutch winger restored control for his team with a precise shot, confirming the Oranje's period of dominance. But Japan refused to give up. In the dying moments of the match, Daichi Kamada snatched an equalizer in the 89th minute. Following a goalmouth scramble after a corner, the Japanese midfielder secured a valuable point for his team.
Sweden – Tunisia: Ayari puts on a show, Tunisia falters
Sweden secured the biggest win of the three matches, thrashing Tunisia 5-1. The Swedes quickly took control of the game and never gave the Tunisians a chance. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring in the 7th minute. After winning the ball high up the pitch and a poor clearance, the Swedish midfielder unleashed a powerful shot past the Tunisian goalkeeper. This early goal immediately put Sweden in control of the match. In the 30th minute, Alexander Isak doubled the lead. Played in down the left wing, the Swedish striker cut inside before finishing with a low shot. Sweden were now 2-0 up and already seemed to be in complete control.
Tunisia narrowed the gap just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Omar Rekik headed home, giving the Carthage Eagles renewed hope. At halftime, the score was 2-1, but the Tunisian resurgence was short-lived. After the break, Sweden resumed their forward momentum. In the 59th minute, Viktor Gyökeres scored Sweden's third goal, set up after a turnover in the Tunisian half. This goal extinguished any remaining Tunisian hopes. Substitute Mattias Svanberg then scored the fourth goal in the 84th minute. His goal was confirmed after a review, confirming Sweden's superiority in the closing stages of the match. Yasin Ayari completed the scoring in stoppage time. In the 96th minute, he completed his brace with another powerful strike, capping off the Swedish performance.
Sweden takes the lead, Japan resists, Ivory Coast breathes a sigh of relief
With their resounding victory, Sweden immediately took the lead in Group F thanks to a very favorable goal difference. The Netherlands and Japan follow with one point each after their draws. Tunisia, heavily defeated, already find themselves under pressure. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast made a solid start to their group. The Elephants didn't dominate completely, but they managed to stay in the game until the final whistle and struck at the exact moment when Ecuador thought they had secured a draw.
