\n New previews drop regularly. Don\u2019t miss one ->
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Why you need to watch<\/p>\n
The Dutch are arguably the greatest team in history that has never won the World Cup. Three World Cup finals. Three losses. Decades of pain. That\u2019s the kind of trauma that makes for absolutely must-watch at this year\u2019s World Cup. The Oranje play with a style that\u2019s been influencing the game since Johan Cruyff was making defenders look stupid back in the mid-70s. Fast forward to 2026, they\u2019re still stacked across all three areas of the pitch, with some of the top stars in Europe donning the iconic orange kits. <\/p>\n
Coming to AT&T Stadium (aka Dallas Stadium)? You need to see this team. The whole country plays like they have something to prove\u2026and that is because they do.<\/p>\n
How they got here<\/p>\n
No drama, no squeakers, no playoff nail-biters. The Oranje secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing as winners of UEFA Group G, earning a direct qualification without needing to go through the playoff route. <\/p>\n
They completed the group stage unbeaten and finished on 20 points, three ahead of second-place Poland, with a decisive 4-0 victory over Lithuania in their final match to book their place. They are a team that took care of business, scoring 27 goals and only conceding four. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780235349_886_image-13.png\")
World Cup History<\/p>\n
Again, three finals\u2026zero titles. That\u2019s the Dutch World Cup story and it is a brutal one. The Netherlands have reached the World Cup finals three times: 1974 (losing to West Germany 2-1), 1978 (a 3-1 loss to Argentina in extra time) and most recently in 2010 (a 1-0 loss to Spain). <\/p>\n
For those keeping score at home, that is a record for playing in the most World Cup finals without ever winning the tournament. Most recently, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Dutch reached the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
The question will continue haunting Dutch football until they answer it: can this finally be the team that closes the gap? <\/p>\n
Players to Watch<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udfe0 Virgil van Dijk \u2014 CB, Liverpool<\/p>\n
The veteran is arguably one of the best center backs in the world when he\u2019s locked in. Van Dijk has earned 88 caps and remains the undisputed leader of this Dutch defense heading into 2026. Watch how he organizes everything around him, the man turns defense into an event. <\/p>\n
\ud83d\udfe0 Cody Gakpo \u2014 Forward, Liverpool<\/p>\n
The Liverpool forward had the tournament of his life four years ago in Qatar and never looked back. Gakpo has been excellent for the national team and will be a key reason why this group has success in North America. He\u2019s athletic and capable of the kind of goal that ends up on a highlight reel for 20 years. <\/p>\n
\ud83d\udfe0 Tijjani Reijnders \u2014 Midfielder, AC Milan<\/p>\n
Casual fans may not know the name yet, but he\u2019s going to be one to watch in this tournament. Reijnders is in line to feature as the main creative guy for the Dutch. At Milan, he\u2019s been one of the best midfielders in Serie A. Clubs like Arsenal are watching and this could be his chance to cash in on the biggest stage. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780235350_541_image-14.png\")
<\/p>\n
Date
\n Opponent
\n Venue
\n Kickoff (CT)<\/p>\n
\u2b50 June 14
\n \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 vs. Japan
\n Dallas Stadium \u2014 Arlington, TX
\n 3:00 PM<\/p>\n
June 20
\n \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea vs. Sweden
\n Houston Stadium \u2014 Houston, TX
\n 12:00 PM<\/p>\n
June 24
\n \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf3 vs. Tunisia
\n Kansas City Stadium \u2014 Kansas City, MO
\n 6:00 PM<\/p>\n
Projected finish<\/p>\n
Their attacking players give this group a chance to go deep if the right guys catch fire when it matters most. The Netherlands are a team built to go deep. The curse says they\u2019ll find a gut-punch along the way and lose eventually. <\/p>\n
BDS Projected Finish: Quarterfinals <\/p>\n
![\"CTA](\"https:\/\/storage.ghost.io\/c\/9b\/a4\/9ba413bd-9ade-4977-b9cf-1a1e2ef6de5c\/content\/images\/2026\/05\/Big_D_Soccer_minimal-12.svg\")
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