Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman announced his 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on May 27, selecting a roster led by captain Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The group includes key figures such as right-back Denzel Dumfries, central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and forward Cody Gakpo, according to a report from the Qatar News Agency. The selection comes weeks before the tournament opener and reflects current fitness levels across the squad.
The Qatar News Agency reported that several notable players were omitted due to injury, including attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, defender Matthijs de Ligt and centre-back Stefan de Vrij. These absences will require tactical adjustments in defence and midfield during the group stage. Koeman finalised the list in The Hague following assessments of available personnel.
The Netherlands were drawn in Group F alongside Tunisia, Japan and Sweden, with their opening match set against Japan on June 14. The fixture will take place in the co-hosted tournament spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States. Further matches against Sweden and Tunisia are scheduled to follow as the team seeks to advance from the 48-nation competition.
FIFA records indicate the Netherlands have reached three World Cup finals without securing the title, as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010. The side reached the quarter-finals at the 2022 tournament in Qatar before losing on penalties. Overall the team holds a record of 30 wins in 55 matches across 12 appearances, data from the governing body shows.
The selected squad features a substantial contingent from Europe’s leading leagues, particularly the English Premier League, bringing club-level experience to the national team. Players such as Ryan Gravenberch add depth alongside the established core of van Dijk and de Jong. This mix of youth and seniority has been highlighted across multiple reports on the announcement.
The Netherlands topped their European qualifying group with an unbeaten record prior to the squad reveal, FIFA figures show. Koeman’s group enters the tournament aiming to build on consistent knockout-stage progress in recent editions. The May 27 announcement provided the final list of those cleared for international duty as competition commenced.
