Netherlands World Cup 2026 Tickets

The Netherlands arrive at the 2026 World Cup determined to leave their old barriers behind and confirm that they are still one of Europe’s major powers. With Ronald Koeman in charge, the Oranje stay true to their recognisable identity: possession-based football, clean build-up from the back and plenty of quality between the lines. After a very solid qualifying campaign, in which they finished top of their European group, the feeling among fans and analysts is that this is a reliable, competitive team that is also hugely attractive to watch live.

The Netherlands’ World Cup history blends brilliance with a clear sense of unfinished business. The Dutch national team have now taken part in twelve World Cups and reached three finals (1974, 1978 and 2010), all of them without lifting the trophy, as well as a memorable third place in Brazil 2014 and a fourth place at France 1998. In Qatar 2022 they once again came close to the semi-finals, losing to Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals and reinforcing their image as a team that almost always compete to the limit on the biggest stages.

When you talk about the Netherlands it is impossible not to think of legends such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit or Dennis Bergkamp, names that defined an era and shaped the famous Dutch “total football”. More recently, players like Arjen Robben have kept that tradition of game-changing attacking talent alive. Looking ahead to 2026, leadership falls to current stars such as Virgil van Dijk, the reference at the back, and Frenkie de Jong, the brain in midfield, who are expected to support a generation that mixes experience and youth with real ambition.

According to most experts, the Netherlands start as favourites to finish top of Group F at the 2026 World Cup. The draw has placed them as top seeds in a demanding but manageable group, with opponents of very different styles that will require maximum focus from the first match. On paper, Dutch quality should make the difference, but the presence of a strong Asian side, a competitive African team and a European play-off winner is a reminder not to take anything for granted. These are their group-stage opponents:

• Japan, a fast and very well-organised Asian team, used to performing well at World Cups and making life difficult for the big powers.
• Tunisia, an intense African side, very solid defensively, who usually impose physical, high-tempo matches.
• Winner of the UEFA play-off, a European team yet to be determined, who will arrive in good form after coming through the qualifying play-offs.

The minimum target for the Netherlands in this Group F will be to secure qualification for the knockouts convincingly and, if possible, do so as group winners to set up a more favourable Round of 32 tie. From there, the Oranje want to reach the knockout phase with confidence, good momentum and the feeling that, this time, they are truly ready to fight for their long-awaited first world title.