The Netherlands World Cup 2026 squad: Ronald Koeman's latest selection ahead of the March international break

The Netherlands have named their last squad ahead of putting together this summer's World Cup squad.

They have been to three finals in their history but have never won the competition, so will be hoping to put that right at World Cup 2026.

Ronald Koeman does have one of the stronger squads at the tournament this year, and although they reached the quarter-finals in 2022, are unlikely to be the very favourites to triumph.

Oranje breezed through Group G in the qualifiers, unbeaten in eight games, with Poland only able to hold them to draws on two occasions.

They boast a defence packed with Premier League talent in the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Jeremie Frimpong and Jurrien Timber, the latter withdrawing from this latest squad through injury.

Further forward, Xavi Simons, Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch offer an interesting balance.

The only area arguably lacking in Koeman's side is in attack, but he does appear to find ways to get the best out of a sometimes patchy Memphis Depay, who is now his nation's all-time top goalscorer.

Squad

The Netherlands World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection

• GK: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• GK: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)
• GK: Justin Bijlow (Genoa)
• DF: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
• DF: Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale)
• DF: Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale)
• DF: Nathan Ake (Manchester City)
• DF: Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
• DF: Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool)
• DF: Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• DF: Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)
• MF: Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur)
• MF: Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City)
• MF: Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus)
• MF: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
• MF: Jerdy Schouten (PSV)
• MF: Quinten Timber (Marseille)
• MF: Luciano Valente (Feyenoord)
• MF: Kees Smit (AZ)
• FW: Memphis Depay (Corinthians)
• FW: Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
• FW: Donyell Malen (Roma)
• FW: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
• FW: Noa Lang (Galatasaray)
• FW: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland)

Fixtures and results

Fixtures

• March 27, 2026: Netherlands vs Norway, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• March 31, 2026: Netherlands vs Ecuador, Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands
  
• June 3, 2026: Netherlands vs Algeria, De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  
• June 14, 2026: Netherlands vs Japan, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
  
• June 25, 2026: Tunisia vs Netherlands, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
  
• September 24, 2026: Netherlands vs Germany, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• September 27, 2026: Serbia vs Netherlands, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
  
• October 1, 2026: Greece vs Netherlands, Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece
  
• October 4, 2026: Netherlands vs Serbia, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• November 13, 2026: Netherlands vs Greece, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• November 16, 2026: Germany vs Netherlands, Germany

Recent results

• November 17, 2025: Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• November 14, 2025: Poland 1–1 Netherlands, Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
  
• October 12, 2025: Netherlands 4–0 Finland, Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• October 9, 2025: Malta 0–4 Netherlands, National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta
  
• October 7, 2025: Lithuania 2–3 Netherlands, Darius and Girenas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania
• September 4, 2025: Netherlands 1–1 Poland, De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  
• June 10, 2025: Netherlands 8–0 Malta, Euroborg, Groningen, Netherlands
• June 7, 2025: Finland 0–2 Netherlands, Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland
  
• March 23, 2025: Spain 3–3 Netherlands (a.e.t., 5–4 pens), Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain
  
• March 20, 2025: Netherlands 2–2 Spain, De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Manager

Who is the Netherlands's manager?

The Netherlands is home to some pioneers of football, and its fair to say Ronald Koeman was one of them during his playing career. He was a defender, but ended his career with over 250 goals for club and country.

This is his second stint in charge of the national team, but will represent just second tournament he has taken charge of after failing to qualify for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

Koeman led Southampton to seventh and sixth placed finishes during his two seasons at the club, and his first season in charge of Everton was enough to see him ranked at no.30 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League managers ever.

Netherlands' Star Player

Who is the Netherlands' star player?

He may be undergoing a tough season at club level, but Virgil van Dijk is still an vitally important part of both his club and national teams.

Ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best centre-backs in the world right now, Van Dijk will need to be at his best to help the Netherlands in their second consecutive World Cup appearance.

As the old saying goes, attack wins games, but defence wins titles, and it will certainly be true for the Netherlands should they want to break their World Cup hoodoo.

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