The Netherlands soared to the top of Group 6 with 7 points after defeating Tunisia 3-1 on Friday morning at Kansas City stadium, in the third and final round of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Dutch side's three goals were scored by Tunisian defender Elias Skhiri — into his own net — in the 3rd minute, Brian Brobbey in the 7th minute, and Van Hecke in the 61st minute, while Tunisia's only goal was scored by Hazem Al Mastouri in the 53rd minute. The Eagles of Carthage thus brought the curtain down on their seventh World Cup appearance with deep disappointment, having suffered three consecutive defeats, finishing bottom of the group without a single point, scoring 2 goals and conceding 12.
The dismal showing came as a major shock to Tunisian and Arab fans, who had pinned great hopes on their team to deliver stronger performances worthy of its history, only for the campaign to end with results that even the most pessimistic scenarios had not anticipated. The Netherlands, meanwhile, have secured a round-of-32 fixture against Morocco, runners-up of Group 3, on Monday, 29 June at the Monterrey stadium in Mexico.
The match began with an early Tunisian threat through a shot from Ismail Al Gharbi that sailed over the crossbar. The Dutch response was swift and clinical in the 3rd minute, when Elias Skhiri inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a Ryan Gravenberch cross.
Just four minutes later, Brian Brobbey extended the Dutch lead with the second goal in the 7th minute, netting his third personal goal of the tournament.
Tunisia attempted to push forward and won a corner kick that was gathered by the Dutch goalkeeper, before the Netherlands asserted full control amid a defensive retreat by Tunisia, who fell back on counter-attacks. The first half ended with the Netherlands leading 2-0.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Dutch continuing to dominate. They wasted an early chance to add a third when a Brobbey effort was cleared by the defence. Tunisia responded with an organised attack that ended in a corner, from which Hazem Al Mastouri headed the ball into the net to pull one back.
Van Hecke quickly replied to make it 3-1 for the Dutch, while the crossbar came to the goalkeeper's rescue to deny another Dutch effort. Chances were squandered at both ends, and the match ended with the Netherlands winning 3-1.