NED
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP F · POT 1

Netherlands
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Ronald Koeman · First World Cup as head coach (played at 1990 & 1994; EURO 1988 winner as a player)
MD1 Jun 14 vs Japan MD2 Jun 20 vs Sweden MD3 Jun 25 vs Tunisia
11th World Cup appearance · best finish: Runner-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
26
Squad size
27.3
Avg. age
24 / 26
Overseas-based
9 / 16
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Ronald Koeman's 26-man squad leans heavily on Premier League regulars. Virgil van Dijk leads as captain and Frenkie de Jong orchestrates the midfield.

Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) and Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City) provide energy, with attacking depth in Cody Gakpo, Justin Kluivert, Memphis Depay and Brian Brobbey. Jurriën Timber, however, withdrew injured before the tournament and Lutsharel Geertruida was called up in his place.

Group F sees the Dutch face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. A strong start in the opener against Japan (June 14) would set them up well for the knockouts.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Koeman's preferred 4-3-3 with de Jong as the anchor and Reijnders/Gravenberch as the 8s.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

4
CB · DF
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool · 34 · Premier League
86 caps · 8G WC: 2022
Captain & defensive anchor
CAPTAIN
21
MF · MF
Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona · 29 · La Liga
65 caps · 3G WC: 2022
Midfield maestro
ACE
11
LW · FW
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool · 27 · Premier League
38 caps · 13G WC: 2022
Left-wing star
10
ST · FW
Memphis Depay
Corinthians · 32
105 caps · 51G WC: 2014, 2022
All-time top scorer
1
GK · GK
Bart Verbruggen
Brighton · 23 · Premier League
14 caps · 0G WC debut
Young first-choice keeper
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 7
GROUP F

GROUP F.

NED
Netherlands
POT 1
JPN
Japan
POT 2
SWE
Sweden
POT 3
TUN
Tunisia
POT 4
Sun, Jun 14
Netherlands vs Japan
Dallas Stadium · Arlington, TX
The Pot 1 favourites open against Japan's quick attackers Kubo, Doan and Kamada — testing de Jong, Reijnders and Gravenberch in midfield.
View lineups →
MD1
Sat, Jun 20
Netherlands vs Sweden
Houston Stadium · Houston, TX
Sweden's tall forwards make set-piece duels crucial — the van Dijk/van de Ven pairing must dominate the air.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Tunisia vs Netherlands
Kansas City Stadium · Kansas City, MO
Group decider. Cracking Tunisia's compact block falls to the Gakpo/Kluivert/Depay front line.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group F
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Guadalupe vs Runners-up Group C
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Houston vs Winner of Match 73
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 89
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group F
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Houston vs Winners Group C
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 78
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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