Netherlands 2026 World Cup preview: Odds, key players and predictions

Netherlands 2026 World Cup odds

Netherlands head into this summer’s tournament priced at 20/1 with Ladbrokes, putting them in the second tier of contenders rather than among the outright favourites. They are priced longer than Germany, Portugal and the big five of France, Spain, England, Brazil and Argentina, but shorter than Norway and Belgium.

In UEFA qualifying, the Netherlands were one of the more convincing European sides. They finished top of Group G, ahead of Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta, and sealed their place at the World Cup with a 4-0 win over Lithuania in Amsterdam.

Priced at 20/1, the Netherlands could represent decent value for bettors who fancy a side with tournament pedigree, a strong spine and plenty of Premier League quality.

However, with France, Spain, England, Brazil and Argentina all looking slightly more complete, the Dutch are not being viewed by the bookies as one of the teams most likely to go all the way.

Road to the 2026 World Cup

Qualification record: 6 wins - 2 draws - 0 losses

Goals for / against: 27 / 4

The Netherlands had to get through a UEFA qualifying group containing Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta, and while there were a couple of frustrating draws against Poland, they still got the job done without losing a game.

Koeman’s side started qualifying with a 2-0 win away to Finland, before beating Malta 8-0 a few days later. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in Rotterdam, but responded with wins over Lithuania, Malta and Finland, before another 1-1 draw against Poland and a final-day 4-0 victory over Lithuania.

Scoring 27 goals in eight games shows that the Netherlands have enough attacking threat to hurt teams, while conceding just four suggests that they will be difficult to break down.

With Van Dijk at the back, Frenkie de Jong in midfield and Gakpo in attack, the Dutch have a strong core, even if they may lack the same firepower as some of the tournament favourites.

Best World Cup finish

The Netherlands are one of the biggest footballing nations never to have won the World Cup.

They have reached the final three times, finishing as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Their most recent final ended in heartbreak against Spain, with Andres Iniesta scoring late in extra-time to deny the Dutch their first World Cup triumph.

They have also gone close on a number of other occasions, reaching the semi-finals in 1998 and 2014, while they made it to the quarter-finals in Qatar in 2022 before losing to eventual winners Argentina on penalties.

As such, the Netherlands have plenty of World Cup history, but the big question is whether this current generation can finally do what Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie never managed to do.

Confirmed squad & key players

The Netherlands have confirmed their 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Koeman naming his final selection on May 27. The KNVB confirmed that the group includes the likes of Van Dijk, De Jong, Gakpo, Depay, Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Ake, Denzel Dumfries and Bart Verbruggen.

It goes without saying but Van Dijk will be one of the key men for the Netherlands at the World Cup. The Liverpool defender remains the leader of this side, and if the Dutch are going to go deep into the tournament, they will need him to be at his very best.

Frenkie de Jong will be just as important in the middle of the park. He gives the Netherlands control, calmness and the ability to play through pressure, while Gravenberch and Reijnders should give Koeman plenty of energy and ball-carrying quality around him.

Gakpo is likely to be the main threat in attacking areas, especially from the left, while Depay’s return to fitness could be huge. However, there are a few concerns, with Xavi Simons, Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten and Stefan de Vrij all unavailable through injury, while Jeremie Frimpong has been left out after a season impacted by inconsistency and recurring fitness issues.

Crysencio Summerville has earned his first senior call-up, while Jurrien Timber has also made the squad despite recent fitness concerns. That gives Koeman options, but compared to some of the favourites, the Netherlands may be going into this tournament with a squad that is strong rather than stacked.

Netherlands' predicted lineup

Our predicted lineup for the Netherlands’ opening game against Japan sees them set up in a 4-3-3 formation.

GK - Bart Verbruggen

RB - Denzel Dumfries

CB - Virgil van Dijk

CB - Jurrien Timber

LB - Nathan Ake

CM - Ryan Gravenberch

CM - Frenkie de Jong

CM - Tijjani Reijnders

RW - Donyell Malen

ST - Memphis Depay

LW - Cody Gakpo

Netherlands' Group F opponents

Netherlands find themselves in Group F this summer with Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. They will be expected to win the group, but this is not a completely straightforward draw.

Japan are likely to be a very awkward opening opponent, especially given their recent World Cup history. They beat both Germany and Spain in 2022, and Ladbrokes have them as the second-favourites to top Group F behind the Netherlands.

Sweden could also cause problems, especially with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres giving them a dangerous strike partnership. Tunisia are the outsiders, but they will still feel they can make life difficult in what looks like one of the more competitive groups on paper.

The Netherlands are priced at 8/11 to win Group F, with Japan at 3/1, Sweden at 4/1 and Tunisia at 9/1. The Dutch open against Japan on June 14, before facing Sweden on June 20 and Tunisia on June 26.

For those interested, Ladbrokes has a more in-depth preview for Group F, featuring tips and insights.

Our Netherlands World Cup prediction

As one of the top 10 favourites to win the World Cup this year, the Netherlands will be expected to reach the knockout stages at the very least.

There is a lot to like about Koeman’s squad. Van Dijk, De Jong and Gakpo give them quality through the spine, while Gravenberch, Reijnders, Dumfries, Ake and Van de Ven mean there is athleticism and experience across the pitch.

However, the injuries to Simons, De Ligt, Schouten and De Vrij do take something away from them. Depay’s fitness is another concern, and while Gakpo can be a major threat, the Netherlands do not have the same level of attacking certainty as France, Spain, England, Brazil or Argentina.

We think the Dutch have enough to win Group F and avoid an early scare, but they may come unstuck once they face one of the elite nations in the latter stages of the competition.

As such, we’re tipping the Netherlands to reach the last 16 before bowing out, with Koeman’s side showing their quality without quite ending the country’s long wait for a first World Cup.

Prediction: Last 16 exit

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

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