No 2026 FIFA World Cup group has seen more goals than Group F.
Leading the charts are group leaders Netherlands with seven scored, five of which came during the thumping of Sweden on Saturday.
Two special guests proudly watched it all unfold from the stands in Houston, with their brother Virgil van Dijk marshalling the troops on the field.
The big defender had opened Holland’s account for the tournament with a domineering header in their curtain raiser against Japan in Dallas. However, the Samurai Blue rallied back and the game eventually finished in a 2-2 draw.
The Orange Army fared much better against the Swedes.
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey scored twice within the first 20 minutes before a second-half Cody Gakpo brace effectively sealed the result.
Crysencio Summerville capped off the game with an 89th minute strike to take the Dutch closer to a knockout spot.
All the while, van Dijk led the defence astutely and only allowed their opponents to score once through Anthony Elanga.
The 34-year-old is potentially playing his last World Cup and aims to become the first ever Dutch captain to lift the elusive trophy.
Van Dijk’s hopes will certainly be buoyed by the presence of family in the stands, as captured by the cameras in Houston.
Van Dijk’s brother and sister in attendance at Houston Stadium
During the one-sided affair, the cameras panned to the glowing orange section of Dutch supporters with Frenkie de Jong’s wife Mikky Kiemeney in focus.
However, standing just in front of him were the younger brother and sister of Virgil van Dijk named Jordan and Jennifer respectively.
Both of them were unsurprisingly donning the Netherlands home jersey for the occasion.
Jordan also had a black Mercedes cap on to complete the fit, while Jennifer sported braided hair as they watched the game.
Fans were taken aback by the sheer similarity between Virgil and his brother. An X user even called him “clean shaved virg.”
“Omg they look just alike I wonder if he has hair too,” another commenter piped in.
Both Jordan and Jennifer rarely make public appearances and lead lives away from the spotlight.
In fact, only two photos of theirs exist in the public space, both posted by their mother over a decade ago in 2014.
In either, the two are posing alongside their elder brother Virgil, unsurprisingly looking much younger in his early 20s.
Van Dijk’s complicated family history
It is a well known story that Virgil did not have the easiest childhood. The Liverpool star’s father walked away from the family when he was still very young and married another woman.
After briefly staying with his father, the future footballer chose to return to his mother and broke off contact with his dad. Virgil was thus forced to work odd jobs for his family’s sustenance, while also focusing on his then-stuttering football career.
The complicated past is also the reason the back of the Dutch defender’s shirt reads Virgil instead of his father’s family name, van Dijk. It is believed both of Virgil siblings have also abandoned the surname for good, choosing instead to opt their mother’s family name of Fo Sieeuw.
Despite such vivid struggles from an early age, Virgil has cemented himself as one of the leading defenders of this generation, if not of all-time. He is certain to go down as a Dutch great.
However, both him and his siblings will hope he adds to his legacy in July by achieving what no one from his country has ever managed, despite Holland reaching three World Cup finals.
