Netherlands face Tunisia in the 2026 World Cup on Friday at 12am (UK time), hoping to book their spot in the knockout stages.
Netherlands go into the final round of fixtures top of Group F, on goals scored over Japan. They opened up their World Cup campaign against Samurai Blue, twice losing a lead to eventually draw 2-2. That result brought some conversations about Netherlands, but they responded in emphatic fashion, thrashing Sweden 5-1 in their next match. Netherlands only need to avoid defeat to book their place in the last-32, though they’ll want to win and hope Japan don’t match their result to seal top spot.
Unfortunately for Tunisia, they are only playing for pride in this game. The Eagles of Carthage have lost both of their games so far, quite easily too. They were beaten 5-1 by Sweden to open the World Cup, before losing 4-0 to Japan. As a result, Tunisia are destined to finish bottom of the group even with a shock win here — due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
This will be the fourth meeting between these two sides, with Netherlands winning one alongside two draws. But they haven’t met since a friendly in 2009.
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Tunisia vs Netherlands team news
Tunisia team news
Herve Renard’s starting XI will be an interesting one. He stuck with a back three after replacing Sabri Lamouchi, and he will likely continue that for what could be his final game in charge. But he did make a few changes, albeit with little impact. Renard will try to win though, so may opt for what he thinks is his strongest lineup, rather than giving game time for the sake of it.
That said, Sabri Ben Hessen could be in line for a start in goal. Both Abdelmouhib Chamakh and Aymen Dahmen have struggled between the sticks, so Renard may opt to give Ben Hessen a chance. The back three may return to the trio that started against Sweden, with Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida coming back in for Dylan Bronn. Omar Rekik and Montassar Talbi have kept their places across the two matches.
Rani Khedira should also come back into the midfield, having been dropped for Renard’s first game. Ellyes Skhiri will join him, with Ali Abdi and Yan Valery as the wing-backs. Hannibal Mejbri is expected to keep his spot in the team, remaining in a more advanced position alongside Elias Saad. There could be a change in the striker, though, with Hazem Mastouri among those hoping to get a start.
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Netherlands team news
Ronald Koeman has largely kept his team settled at the World Cup so far, only making a few changes between matches. He’s likely to make another alteration for this game, but won’t make too many to risk an upset. The main change should be for Crysencio Summerville to start on the right wing, ahead of Donyell Malen. Summerville has scored in both of the Netherlands’ World Cup games so far, netting from off the bench last time out.
While Malen started through the middle against Japan, Brian Brobbey is likely to keep his place leaidng the line. The Sunderland striker scored twice against Sweden, setting Netherlands up for their rout. Cody Gakpo scored the next two goals in the match and will start on the left. It will mean another substitute role for Memphis Depay, who has only just returned from injury.
The rest of the Netherlands team could remain the same. It’ll mean a midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders and Frenkie de Jong. Denzel Dumfries and Micky van de Ven are expected to continue as the full-backs, with a centre-back partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tunisia vs Netherlands predicted lineups
Tunisia (3-4-2-1): Ben Hessen; Ben Hamida, Rekik, Talbi; Valery, Khedira, Skhiri, Abdi; Hannibal, Saad; Mastouri.
Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, van Hecke, van Dijk, van de Ven; Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders; Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.
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