Netherlands vs. Sweden: Head-to-head record and past meetings ahead of 2026 World Cup clash

Netherlands and Sweden will lock horns in the 2026 World Cup on Saturday.

Sweden currently sit at the top of Group F, having recorded a 5-1 win over Tunisia in their tournament opener, while Netherlands are third on one point, drawing 2-2 with Japan in their first game of this summer's competition.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Netherlands and Sweden ahead of this weekend's match.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 25

Netherlands wins: 12

Draws: 5

Sweden wins: 8

Netherlands vs. Sweden is a fixture that dates all the way back to 1908, with the pair first meeting in a third-place playoff at the Olympic Games - Netherlands won 2-0 on that occasion, and they were victorious in the first four games between the two nations.

Sweden's first win over Netherlands was a 4-1 success in a friendly in August 1919, but five of their opening six games in all competitions ended in wins for Holland.

Netherlands lead the overall head-to-head record between the two teams, having won 12 of their previous 25 matches, suffering eight defeats and also drawing five.

The last meeting between the two teams was a World Cup qualification match in October 2017, with Netherlands recording a 2-0 victory, but the reverse game in Sweden finished 1-1.

There has only been one previous clash between the two nations at a World Cup - that came at the 1974 competition, with the pair playing out a goalless draw in the group stage; Netherlands went on to lose the 1974 World Cup final to West Germany.

The pair also famously met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, with Netherlands winning 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw.