Netherlands crushes Sweden 5-1, breaks Pelé's Brazil World Cup record

The Netherlands achieved their first victory of the 2026 World Cup with an emphatic 5-1 win against Sweden on Saturday, June 20. The dominant performance, featuring braces from Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo, along with a goal from Crysencio Summerville, puts the Dutch team in a strong position to advance to the round of 16.

Sweden managed a consolation goal in the 59th minute through Anthony Elanga, but it was not enough to counter the Netherlands' superior play. With this result, Ronald Koeman's squad temporarily leads Group F with four points, marking a significant step towards qualification.

Beyond the convincing scoreline, the Dutch national team etched its name in World Cup history. According to Spanish statistician MisterChip, the Netherlands has now extended its unbeaten run in the tournament to an unprecedented 14 consecutive matches. This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record of 13 undefeated games held by Pelé's legendary Brazil team across the 1958, 1962, and 1966 World Cups.

The Netherlands' last defeat in a World Cup match dates back to the 2010 final against Spain, where they lost 1-0 in extra time. Since then, including their appearances in 2014, 2022, and the current 2026 tournament (having missed 2018), they have avoided defeat within regular time or extra time. Notably, Argentina eliminated the Dutch in both the 2014 semi-finals and the 2022 quarter-finals, but these victories came via penalty shootouts, which FIFA classifies as draws, thus preserving the Netherlands' unbeaten streak.