Tunisia have crashed out of the 2026 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands on Friday in their final Group F match at GEHA Field in Kansas City, Missouri.

An own goal in the third minute, by Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri, put the European team in front. It became the 12th own goal of this edition of the tournament and the joint most in World Cup history.

Brian Brobbey doubled the lead four minutes later, from a headed pass by Virgil van Dijk before half-time, but Hazem Mastouri reduced the deficit in the 54th minute by converting a corner-kick from Hannibal Mejbri.

Any hope of a comeback by Tunisia was shut down by Jan Paul van Hecke, who also turned home a corner-kick from Tijjani Reijnders in the 62nd minute to seal the victory and send the Dutch team to the round of 32.

The group’s other final game, played simultaneously, saw Japan and Sweden play out a 1-1 draw at AT&T Stadium in Texas.

After a goalless first half, the Samurai Blue took the lead with a wonderful team goal scored by Daizen Maeda in the 56th minute, scoring Japan’s seventh goal in the tournament. Japan thereby set a national record by scoring the most goals in a World Cup group stage, surpassing their previous record of five goals they set in 2002.

In the 62nd minute, Anthony Elanga picked up a pass from Victor Gyõkeres and scored a jaw-dropping curler to draw level. Both teams failed to win and ended up sharing the spoils.

The Netherlands and Japan qualified for the round of 32 with seven and five points, respectively. Sweden is third with four points and will hope to qualify for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams. Tunisia had zero points.