Virgil van Dijk has confirmed his future with the Netherlands national team. The Oranje captain announced in an interview with De Telegraaf that he will continue after the 2026 World Cup.
The 35-year-old defender spoke at length about his plans for the first time. "I still feel good and still have the drive to perform at the highest level," Van Dijk said. He emphasized that he is far from finished with international football.
What does this mean for the Netherlands?
Van Dijk's confirmation comes at an important time. The Netherlands are preparing for their final World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The defender remains a foundation in the backline. His experience and leadership are essential for a young squad.
According to our squad data, Van Dijk has 75 caps, making him one of the most experienced players in the current selection. Only Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Aké have comparable experience in defense. The captain played every qualifying match this season.
What will his role be?
Van Dijk will remain captain of the Netherlands national team. Manager Ronald Koeman fully trusts his experience. The defender forms the central point of the defense. His organizational skills and passing are essential to Oranje's style of play.
In the current setup, he usually plays in the heart of defense. Sometimes he shifts to the right when needed. His physical strength and duel ability remain at a top level. This is evident from his statistics in the qualifying campaign.
What are the next steps?
The focus is now entirely on the final World Cup qualifiers. The Netherlands are in a good position in their group but need to secure qualification. Van Dijk will play an important role in this process. His presence provides certainty to the entire team.
After the 2026 World Cup, he wants to continue. "As long as I'm fit and feeling good, I'll keep making myself available," the defender stated. He also hopes to participate in Euro 2028. That tournament could be his sixth major international competition.
The coming months feature important matches. You can check the full fixtures schedule on our site. Oranje still has some difficult away games to play. Van Dijk's leadership will be vital during those matches.
With this confirmation, an important question has been answered. The Netherlands national team can continue building around their experienced captain. The upcoming qualifiers will be the first test of his continued commitment.
