Netherlands

The Netherlands arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a squad that blends world-class defensive organization, Premier League physical conditioning, and a creative midfield capable of controlling possession against any opponent. Manager Ronald Koeman has had three years to build his system around the squad's genuine strengths, and the result is a team that reached the Euro 2024 semifinals before a narrow defeat to England — a result that stung but also demonstrated they can compete with the tournament's elite at the highest level. Virgil van Dijk at 34 remains one of the most complete center-backs in world football. His reading of the game, aerial dominance, and ability to organize a defensive structure under pressure have not visibly diminished despite his age, and his leadership value — both in the dressing room and in critical match moments — is immeasurable. Behind him, goalkeeper alternatives provide Premier League-proven depth. In front of him, Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders provide the direct running and creative output that gives the Netherlands their attacking shape. Frenkie de Jong's ability to control the tempo of possession-based football makes the Netherlands difficult to press effectively — when he is in form and healthy, opponents who try to press aggressively find themselves pulled out of position and exposed. The injury to Xavi Simons is the principal squad concern — his pace and direct dribbling provided a counterattacking dimension that no current Netherlands player can fully replace. Group F with Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia is manageable but not trivial. Japan's March 2026 form — beating England at Wembley — means the Netherlands cannot approach that fixture with complacency. At 20-to-1 odds, the market places them as a credible outsider with genuine knockout-stage quality. Their route to the final depends heavily on which bracket section opens up in the Round of 32 and beyond.