Netherlands will be travelling to North America hoping to lift their first ever World Cup after years of near misses.
Ronald Koeman has a good mix of youth and experience, who will be looking to elevate themselves into the world elite with a win this summer after making at least the quarter-final stage in three of the last four competitions.
Get all the latest Netherlands stats as the tournament unfolds plus the latest squad, manager and fixture information for the European side here.
Netherlands route to the World Cup
Netherlands topped Group G without suffering a loss, winning six of their eight games and conceding just four goals. They found the net 27 times, with Memphis Depay scoring eight times.
Oranje dropped points in both games against Poland but comprehensive wins over Malta (8-0 and 4-0), Finland (4-0) and Lithuania (4-0) ensured safe passage to their 12th World Cup.
Netherlands World Cup 2026 fixtures
Their first game of the group stage for the Netherlands will be against Japan in Arlington, Texas and they will hope for a victory to set them on their way to qualifying for the knockout stages. That will be followed by a match against Graham Potter’s Sweden outfit.
The final group game comes against Tunisia in Kansas City, with the two nations meeting for the fourth time in their history.
READ MORE: Get the latest Netherlands World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Netherlands key players for World Cup 2026
Netherlands top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Memphis Depay
- Key stat: Memphis Depay has scored 55 goals in 108 appearances for the Netherlands.
Memphis Depay looks set to lead the Netherlands’ attacking line at the 2026 World Cup. The experienced striker has proven himself at the highest level, playing for elite clubs across Europe. Depay brings leadership, experience, and a proven goal-scoring record to Oranje’s attacking setup. His ability to perform in major tournaments and his understanding of international football make him a crucial player for the Netherlands’ World Cup ambitions. Against the relatively weak opposition in Group F, Depay should have excellent opportunities to score goals and build momentum for the knockout stages.
Netherlands primary playmaker: Frenkie de Jong
- Key stat: Frenkie de Jong created 18 chances for the Netherlands in 2026 World Cup qualifying, with an average of 3.1 chances created per 90 minutes.
Frenkie de Jong has established himself as the Netherlands’ creative heartbeat in midfield. The Barcelona midfielder’s technical ability, vision, and understanding of the game make him essential to Oranje’s attacking play. De Jong’s capacity to control matches and create opportunities for teammates has been instrumental in the Netherlands’ recent success. His performances at Euro 2024 demonstrated his readiness for the World Cup stage. Against Group F opponents, de Jong should have plenty of space to showcase his creative talents.
Netherlands defensive anchor: Virgil van Dijk
- Key stat: Virgil van Dijk averaged 2.8 tackles and 5.2 interceptions per 90 minutes in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Virgil van Dijk remains the cornerstone of the Netherlands’ defence, providing defensive stability and leadership. The Liverpool captain’s experience, positioning, and understanding of the game continue to make him invaluable to Oranje. Van Dijk’s ability to organise the defence while maintaining possession has been crucial to the Netherlands’ success. His presence will be particularly important in the knockout stages against stronger opposition.
Netherlands rising star: Xavi Simons
The Netherlands have an exciting young talent in Xavi Simons, who has already demonstrated world-class ability at PSV Eindhoven and for Oranje. The young midfielder’s technical ability, creativity, and confidence make him one of the most exciting prospects in world football. Simons will be 21 by the time of the 2026 World Cup and could play a significant role in the Netherlands’ campaign. His performances in Group F could be crucial in establishing him as a key player for the knockout stages.
STAND-OUT STAT: Netherlands have the best win percentage in World Cup matches of any team not to win the tournament. Their 54.5% win ratio is only topped by Brazil and Germany.
Netherlands set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Memphis Depay
- Free kicks: Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo
- Corners: Denzel Dumfries
Netherlands tactical analysis and formation
Netherlands team stats (average per game from World Cup qualifying)
- Shots: 17.4
- Shots on Target: 6.5
- Shots conceded: 7
- Corners: 6.5
Ronald Koeman tend to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation with Memphis Depay spearheading the attack. A large Premier League presence remains in the squad, with Cody Gakpo, Tijani Reijnders, Justin Kluivert and Xavi Simons in attack. Frenkie De Jong and Ryan Gravenberch will likely provide the defence with protection, while Virgil Van Dijk will have to marshal the backline.
Get the latest Netherlands World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
Netherlands manager analysis
Ronald Koeman has been in charge of the Netherlands national team since June 2023, replacing Louis van Gaal. His time at the helm has been largely successful in terms of wins and losses, with 18 victories and only four defeats, but the side being eliminated from Euro 2024 at the semi-final stage will have been seen as a disappointment for a team with genuine World Cup ambitions. Despite this setback, Koeman has established himself as a respected figure in international football management.
Koeman has extensive international pedigree, having managed the Netherlands national team previously from 2018 to 2020, where he led them to qualification for Euro 2020 and the UEFA Nations League Finals. He has also managed at the highest club level, including spells at Barcelona, where he won La Liga, and at Everton and Southampton in the Premier League. His experience at both club and international level provides him with the tactical knowledge and man-management skills required to lead a World Cup campaign.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Koeman | Netherlands | 37 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 92 | 39 | 57 |
Netherlands World Cup FAQs
The Netherlands have never been crowned winners of the World Cup, reaching the final three times (in 1974, 1978, and 2010) but failing to win the trophy on each occasion.
The Netherlands were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing 3-1 to Argentina in a dramatic encounter.
Robin van Persie currently holds the record for goals for the Netherlands at World Cups, scoring six goals across three tournaments (2006, 2010, and 2014). Memphis Depay is approaching this record, having scored five goals across two tournaments (2014 and 2022), and could potentially surpass van Persie’s tally at the 2026 World Cup if he continues his impressive goal-scoring form.
Johan Cruyff is widely regarded as the Netherlands’ greatest World Cup player, having led the Dutch to the 1974 final and revolutionising the way football was played with his innovative style. Other legendary Dutch World Cup performers include Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, and Dennis Bergkamp, all of whom contributed significantly to the Netherlands’ success in various tournaments.
Based on current odds of 20/1, the Netherlands have an implied probability of approximately 4.76% of winning the 2026 World Cup. However, this probability could be significantly higher when accounting for their favourable group draw and the quality of their squad. Many analysts believe the Netherlands’ true winning probability is closer to 6-8%, making them genuine contenders for the trophy.
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