The Netherlands national team approaches the 2026 World Cup as leaders in their qualifying group, while fans can watch all matches for free. The tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, will be broadcast for free by Dutch and British broadcasters, as reported by Mashable.com this week.
The Dutch side currently sits first in their World Cup qualifying group with 7 points from 3 games. The team has scored 10 goals and conceded 4, resulting in a +6 goal difference. Their last result was a 1-1 draw against Morocco on June 30. Manager Ronald Koeman's squad is unbeaten in their last five internationals, with a recent run of three wins and two draws. The next major test is a home fixture against Germany on September 24, a match listed in our fixtures schedule.
How can you watch the 2026 World Cup for free?
All 104 matches of the 23rd World Cup are available to watch for free via NOS in the Netherlands. For viewers outside the Netherlands, British broadcasters BBC iPlayer and ITVX also offer free live streams. To access these streams from anywhere in the world, a VPN is required. ExpressVPN is mentioned as an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Joseph Green, Global Shopping Editor at Mashable, explained his area of coverage. "I cover VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day," Green said. He is also Executive Editor of AskMen, Mashable's sister site.
What is the format of the expanded tournament?
The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 nations, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The tournament will be hosted across multiple venues in North America. The defending champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the 2022 World Cup. The final will feature the Euro 2024 winners against the reigning world champions. The current standings for the Netherlands and their rivals can be checked on our standings page.
How is the Netherlands shaping up ahead of the tournament?
The Dutch preparation for the World Cup is progressing well, evidenced by their unbeaten run. With a +6 goal difference and top spot in the group, the team is showing strong form. The draws, like the one against Morocco, also show there is work to be done to reach peak tournament condition. The squad, featuring players currently active in top leagues, is steadily building confidence. For a detailed breakdown of all player stats, visit our stats page.
The immediate focus is on the final qualifying matches, with the home game against arch-rival Germany on September 24 as the next highlight.
