Have Netherlands qualified for World Cup 2026? Latest Oranje results, past record at FIFA soccer tournament
The Netherlands conclude their Group G campaign in UEFA’s World Cup qualifying section this month.
The Oranje were unbeaten through six matches, winning five and drawing at home to closest challengers Poland.
An aggregate of 12-0 in their two matches against Malta have given Ronald Koeman’s team a handsome goal difference advantage that should make automatic qualification straightforward for the three-time finalists.
The Sporting News examines the state of play of the Netherlands’ qualification hopes.
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Have Netherlands qualified for World Cup 2026?
As of matchday nine of the UEFA qualifying section, the Netherlands have not yet secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
They sit top of Group G, three points ahead of Poland, who they face in Warsaw on November 14. However, a +13 goal-difference advantage over their nearest challengers means even defeat in the penultimate qualifier should not derail the Netherlands.
Ronald Koeman’s side host bottom-of-the-table Lithuania in Amsterdam on the final matchweek, while Poland travel to Malta.
MORE: All you need to know about how UEFA’s World Cup qualifying section works
Netherlands World Cup qualifying results, fixtures
The Netherlands have two games left in Group G:
- Friday, November 14: Poland vs. Netherlands
- Monday, November 17: Netherlands vs. Lithuania
Netherlands World Cup 2026 qualifying results
DateMatchVenueJune 7, 2025Finland 0-2 NetherlandsOlympic Stadium (Helsinki, Finland)June 10, 2025Netherlands 8-0 MaltaEuroborg (Groningen, Netherlands)September 4, 2025Netherlands 1-1 PolandDe Kuip (Rotterdam, Netherlands)September 7, 2025Lithuania 2-3 NetherlandsDarius and Girenas Stadium (Kaunas, Lithuania)October 9, 2025Malta 0-4 NetherlandsNational Stadium (Ta’Qali, Malta)October 12, 2025Netherlands 4-0 FinlandJohan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam, Netherlands)November 14, 2025Poland vs. NetherlandsStadion Narodowy (Warsaw, Poland)November 17, 2025Netherlands vs. LithuaniaJohan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Netherlands World Cup record
The Netherlands have finished as runners-up at the World Cup in 1974, 1978 and 2010. No team has ever lost so many finals without winning one. They were also beaten semifinalists in 1998 and 2014.
Overall, the Oranje have featured at 11 World Cups and reached the quarterfinals at Qatar 2022, having failed to qualify four years earlier.
Netherlands record at the World Cup
YearStage reachedHost nation1930Did not enterUruguay1934Round of 16Italy1938Round of 16France1950Did not enterBrazil1954Did not enterSwitzerland1958Did not qualifySweden1962Did not qualifyChile1966Did not qualifyEngland1970Did not qualifyMexico1974Runners-upWest Germany1978Runners-upArgentina1982Did not qualifySpain1986Did not qualifyMexico1990Round of 16Italy1994QuarterfinalsUnited States1998Fouth placeFrance2002Did not qualifyJapan and South Korea2006Round of 16Germany2010Runners-upSouth Africa2014Third placeBrazil2018Did not qualifyRussia2022QuarterfinalsQatar
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Netherlands World Cup schedule
Should they qualify, the Netherlands’ schedule at the 2026 will not be known until the World Cup draw, when the six groups are decided and pathways to the final become clearer.
When is the World Cup draw?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5.
The ceremony is due to start at 12 p.m. local time (ET).
