World Cup 2026 Picks: Group F Winner Prediction, Schedule & Team Previews
A competitive Group F is set for this summer’s FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands will be favored to top the standings, but Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia could all threaten upsets. Find the odds and our World Cup Group F picks here.
World Cup 2026: Group F Odds
| Group F Team | To Win Group F Odds | To Qualify Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | -135 | -1650 |
| Japan | +275 | -402 |
| Sweden | +475 | -231 |
| Tunisia | +900 | +121 |
Group F World Cup Schedule
Matchday 1
- Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14)
- Sweden vs. Tunisia (June 14)
Matchday 2
- Netherlands vs. Sweden (June 20)
- Tunisia vs. Japan (June 20)
Matchday 3
- Japan vs. Sweden (June 25)
- Tunisia vs. Netherlands (June 25)
Group F: Meet The Teams
Netherlands
- Manager: Ronald Koeman
- Odds to Win World Cup: +2500
- Best World Cup Performance: Runners-Up (1974, 1978, 2010)
- Key Player: Frenkie de Jong
No team have lost more finals in World Cup history than the Netherlands. The Oranje look a very well-balanced nation capable of going deep this summer, and plenty of positives would have been taken from their Nations League performances last year and their dominant qualifying campaign.
They should be a difficult team to breakdown with experienced defenders Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven forming a strong backline. Much will depend on Frenkie de Jong in the middle of the park, who links the team together.
Japan
- Manager: Hajime Moriyasu
- Odds to Win World Cup: +6000
- Best World Cup Performance: Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022)
- Key Player: Daichi Kamada
Japan have been consistent at the highest level of soccer in recent memory, but they are yet to break their curse of exiting in the round of 16 at the World Cup. They have been in dominant form throughout the last cycle, winning 13 of their 16 qualifiers.
Japan have also proven that they can compete against higher-ranked nations, beating England at Wembley earlier this year and Brazil last October. Kaoru Mitoma is a big miss due to injury, but stars such as Daichi Kamada, Yurito Suzuki, and Ayase Ueda ensure that the Japanese shouldn’t be dismissed this summer.
Sweden
- Manager: Graham Potter
- Odds to Win World Cup: +12500
- Best World Cup Performance: Runners-Up (1958)
- Key Player: Viktor Gyokeres
Sweden are incredibly fortunate to be involved this summer following a disastrous qualifying campaign, which saw them fail to win in six of their eight matches. However, a return to form came during the playoffs, beating Poland and Ukraine.
Sweden boast world-class strikers such as Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak. Although fitness for the latter would be a major concern. Defensively, they will need to improve, but Potter could counteract their poor record by sticking with a 5-4-1 formation.
Tunisia
- Manager: Sabri Lamouchi
- Odds to Win World Cup: +50000
- Best World Cup Performance: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022)
- Key Player: Elias Achouri
Tunisia will be playing in their seventh World Cup this summer, but they have never previously made it out of the group stage. The African nation endured a miserable AFCON campaign earlier this year, falling in the round of 16 and winning just one of their four fixtures.
Wins since then have also been in short supply, most recently playing out a 0-0 draw against Canada. A lack of goals has been a common trend since the start of the qualifying cycle, and they will find it challenging to test more established nations in Group F.
World Cup 2026 Picks: Who Will Win Group F?
I like the chances of the Netherlands and Japan progressing from Group F. The depth in the former could be crucial in ensuring that they finish top of the standings, but it could come down to goal difference.
