Netherlands national football team fails at FIFA World Cup 2026. The Netherlands national football team has made a disappointing start at the 2026 World Cup. The team lost the first match against Japan with 2-2. Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman is being critically reviewed for his tactical decisions. According to foreign media, the Netherlands lost control after the substitution of Nathan Aké for Ryan Gravenberch. Japan then took the lead and scored the equalizing goal from Daichi Kamada. The Netherlands national football team had a 2-1 lead, but could not hold it. The team played a quiet first half, but after the break, the game opened up and it was a thrilling conclusion. The Netherlands national football team has a long way to go to qualify for the next round. The criticism of the team is harsh and the coach is blamed for not preparing the team well for the World Cup. The Netherlands national football team must quickly recover to have a chance to qualify for the next round. The team has two more matches to play and must win to qualify for the next round.