The World Cup Starts in Two Weeks
The moment has arrived. On Wednesday, May 27, national coach Ronald Koeman announced his final 26-player squad in Zeist. On Wednesday, June 3, the Netherlands will play its first warm-up match against Algeria at De Kuip. The World Cup is about to burst into life.
For the first time, 48 countries are participating: this means more matches and more possibilities. This is your guide through every step of this adventure. Let's go!
The 10 Best Cafés in Groningen for World Cup Football
Want to follow the World Cup in the city? Whether the Grote Markt will be packed with people and screens again for the Dutch National Team's kick-off remains to be seen. There are also quite a few rules regarding terrace opening hours during night matches and noise disruption. To stay up-to-date on this, keep a close eye on the website of the municipality of Groningen. Either way, the pubs in Groningen are completely ready for it. Here are your best addresses:
⚽🇳🇱 Partycafé De Doos
📍 Groningen City Centre
You can feel the real Orange vibe at De Doos! Experience all World Cup 2026 matches on a BIG SCREEN right in the city centre. This won't be just any café where you watch football – this is going to be one giant football party.
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 All Dutch matches live on a big screen
- 🥳 De Doos opens 2 hours before kick-off of every match – for the ultimate pre-party
- 🎉 Cheering, singing, and partying together
- 🍺 Cold drinks and full-on support for Oranje
- 🧡 Great atmosphere, fun, and sing-alongs guaranteed
This Is Your Place For The World Cup. Keep a close eye on their socials for the complete match schedule, opening hours, and special World Cup promotions!
⏱️ Grand Café Time Out – The Classic Football Viewer
📍 Groningen
Football takes centre stage at Time Out. Here you can watch all Dutch matches of the 2026 World Cup, both indoors and outdoors.
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 All Dutch matches broadcasted (both indoors and outdoors)
- 📡 Other matches on at least 1 screen (more available upon request)
- ☕ Classic café atmosphere with football enthusiasts
- 🍻 Watch quietly or cheer together – you decide the rhythm
For the Purist: If you want to follow the football without too much noise, but in good company, Time Out is your spot.
🎯 Buckshot – Room For Everyone
📍 Groningen
At Buckshot, they broadcast all matches of the Dutch national team. And that's not all – they will also show several matches of Curaçao (as long as they are not in the middle of the night). With both the upstairs and downstairs café, plus the restaurant, there is plenty of space for everyone.
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 All Dutch matches live
- 🌴 Also matches of Curaçao (daytime/evening)
- 🏢 Spacious layout: upstairs café, downstairs café, plus restaurant
- 👥 Room for everyone – no hassle with overcrowded rooms
- 🧡 Cozy football viewing with food & drinks
For Plenty of Choice: Whether you want to follow Dutch football or are interested in the island football – Buckshot has space for everything!
🍺 Proeflokaal De Amstel – Intimate Football Viewing
📍 Groningen
At Proeflokaal De Amstel, you can watch all matches of the Netherlands, as well as several matches of Curaçao or other countries (as long as they fall within opening hours). With 4 screens and everything indoors, it is the perfect place for cozy football viewing.
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 4 screens – all Dutch football live
- 🌴 Also matches of Curaçao (as long as within opening hours)
- 🏠 Everything indoors – comfortable and cozy
- 🍻 Tasting room atmosphere with great drinks
- 👥 Intimate viewing without overwhelming crowds
For a More Intimate Vibe: Proeflokaal De Amstel is perfect for those who want to follow the World Cup in comfort, away from the huge crowds.
🎯 DOT – The Biggest Screen in Groningen
📍 Vrydemalaan 2, Groningen
"Think of a gigantic screen, plenty of orange madness, good bites, lots of fun, and cold drinks." DOT boasts the largest screen in Groningen and broadcasts all Dutch matches. But DOT goes further – they also schedule other World Cup matches and feature live music!
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 🎬 The biggest screen in Groningen
- 📺 All Dutch football live – as well as other top clashes
- 🎸 Live music during important matches (e.g., Ray Slagter)
- 🍔 Top-quality food & drinks
- 🎉 DOT's "Twelfth Man" atmosphere – full-on orange madness
- 🚗 Parking in the Boterdiep parking garage (€1 per 20 min)
- 🎟️ Free entry for all World Cup matches!
For the Ultimate Experience: DOT is the place to be in Groningen for the ultimate World Cup football adventure. With the biggest screen, best atmosphere, and free admission. Keep a close eye on their program at dotgroningen.nl/wk
🍀 O'Malleys – The Football Bar for All Clashes
📍 Groningen
At O'Malleys, the World Cup will definitely be broadcasted – as much as possible! All matches starting before midnight are on the program, and of course, all Dutch football without exception. So no matter what time Oranje plays: you can watch it at O'Malleys!
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 All matches starting before midnight
- 🇳🇱 All Dutch football – no exceptions!
- 🍻 Cozy football viewing with drinks
- 👥 O'Malleys atmosphere – relaxed and social
- 📅 Extensive World Cup schedule across all screens
For the Broad Selection: O'Malleys broadcasts as many World Cup matches as possible – perfect if you want to follow not just Oranje, but other top duels too.
🎮 Bar Players – Two Big Screens, Pure Football Fun
📍 Poelestraat 22, 9712 KA Groningen
At Bar Players , they broadcast everything on 2 big screens plus TV, and they always turn it into a super cozy period. This is the ultimate place where you know the atmosphere will be spot on.
✨ What You Can Expect:
- 📺 2 big screens + TV
- 🎉 Always a cozy atmosphere
- 🧡 Proven World Cup experience (check out the photos from 2 years ago!)
- 👥 Full-on support for Oranje
- 🍻 Drinks & football, the perfect combination
For the True Football Fan: Bar Players is your spot if you want to watch on two big screens and know you're in a great atmosphere. Proven quality!
Tip: Make sure to arrive well ahead of kick-off for the Dutch national team, as it is going to be absolutely packed!
The Complete Match Schedule
Warm-up Matches (This week!)
Wednesday, June 3: Netherlands – Algeria
- Stadium: Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip), Rotterdam
- Kick-off: 20:45 CET
- Type: Official farewell match before heading to the World Cup. First official encounter ever.
Monday, June 8: Netherlands – Uzbekistan
- Stadium: Icahn Stadium, New York
- Kick-off: 20:45 CET (Dutch time)
- Type: Final preparation in the American climate. Behind-closed-doors match without an audience.
Group Stage (Group F)
- Sunday, June 14: Netherlands – Japan
Kick-off: 22:00 Dutch time (15:00 local) | Stadium: AT&T Stadium (94,000 capacity), Dallas/Arlington, Texas - Saturday, June 20: Netherlands – Sweden
Kick-off: 19:00 Dutch time (12:00 local) | Stadium: NRG Stadium (72,000 capacity), Houston, Texas - Night of June 25 to 26: Tunisia – Netherlands
Kick-off: 01:00 Dutch time (18:00 local on the 25th) | Stadium: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (76,000 capacity), Kansas City, Missouri
Note: This is a late-night match for viewers in the Netherlands!
The Dutch Squad – What Koeman Has Chosen
National coach Ronald Koeman announced his final selections on May 27 in Zeist. With a balanced mix of international experience and rising talent, Oranje travels to the World Cup with these 26 players:
The Final 26-man Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion).
- Defenders: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur).
- Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Guus Til (PSV), Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion).
- Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United), Wout Weghorst (Ajax).
Major Omissions & Injuries:
- Xavi Simons: The biggest heartbreak for Oranje. Suffered a severe knee injury in the final stages of the season (torn ACL) and definitively misses the World Cup.
- Matthijs de Ligt: Had to undergo necessary back surgery on May 15 and has not recovered in time.
Fitness Doubts:
Koeman kept the medical staff in suspense until the last moment. Memphis Depay had been struggling with a persistent thigh injury since March but won his race against the clock after promising minutes with Corinthians. Frenkie de Jong and Quinten Timber will also be intensively monitored during the first week of training to get them fully match-fit for the group stage.
Our Opponents – A Short Analysis
Japan – Technical Perfection
Hypermodern high-intensity pressing football and lightning-fast combinations. Nipped wins against Spain and Germany at the 2022 World Cup before losing to Croatia on penalties. Strength: tactical intelligence. Weakness: physically less dominant in aerial duels.
Expectation: The Netherlands wins 2-1. Japan is tricky, but the Netherlands is superior.
Sweden – Physical Athletes
Play-off winners with plenty of pace and Premier League talent. Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 20+ goals in his first season) is the top striker the Dutch defense must fear. Playing style: direct and physical with rapid transitions.
Expectation: The Netherlands wins 3-1. Gyökeres scores, but Oranje comes out on top.
Tunisia – Defensive Fortress
Compact and disciplined. Defensively rock-solid (kept six clean sheets in qualifying) but less creative in attack. They beat France at the 2022 World Cup. A tough nut to crack.
Expectation: The Netherlands wins 4-0. This will likely be our most straightforward group match.
Our Group Standings & Knockout Route
Expected group stage final standings:
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands – 9 points (3 wins)
- 🇯🇵 Japan – 4 points
- 🇸🇪 Sweden – 4 points
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia – 0 points
If the Netherlands wins the group (Highly likely):
- Round of 32 (June 29, Houston): Against the runner-up of Group C (likely Scotland or Morocco).
Expectation: The Netherlands wins 2-0 (Stadium: NRG Stadium, 19:00 Dutch time). - Round of 16 (July 5, New York): Against the winner of Group A or B (likely England, Portugal, or Australia).
Expectation: The Netherlands wins 2-1 after a thrilling match. This will be considerably tougher. - Quarter-final (July 11, Miami): Against a heavyweight from Group E or I (likely Germany or France). This is where it gets incredibly tough.
Expectation: 50/50 chance. This could be our final stop, but the semi-finals are within reach. - Semi-final (July 15, Atlanta): Only reachable if the Dutch team performs at an absolute world-class level.
- Final (July 19, New Jersey): The ultimate dream scenario!
The World Cup 2026 Favorites – Why They Can Win
🇪🇸 Spain – Top Favorite (Number 1 FIFA Ranking)
Technically perhaps the strongest midfield in the world. With superstars Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Rodri, their game revolves around dominant possession and total control. Absolutely one of the favorites for the title.
🇫🇷 France – Second Favorite
Boasts an incredibly deep squad. With Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Rayan Cherki, and Bradley Barcola, they have bundles of pace, creativity, and goalscoring power. World Champions in 2018 and finalists in 2022; a constant powerhouse and for many, the top favorite on paper.
🇬🇧 England – Third Favorite
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) deliver world-class attacking quality. The total squad value stands at a staggering 1.34 billion euros. Notable: Phil Foden, Cole Palmer & Trent Alexander-Arnold unexpectedly missed out on a spot in German manager Thomas Tuchel's squad.
🇦🇷 Argentina – Most Dangerous Outsider
The reigning World Champions possess the experience and the ultimate winning mentality. They have many players capable of deciding big games, such as Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández & of course Lionel Messi. Risk: they remain defensively vulnerable against absolute elite teams.
Why the Netherlands Can Reach the Semi-Finals
With this match schedule, Oranje has realistic chances of going far:
- Strong squad: A great mix of experience and talent including Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, and Donyell Malen.
- Favorable group: Japan is tricky, Sweden is manageable, and we should be able to handle Tunisia.
- Group win is realistic: This offers a more favorable knockout path (e.g., Scotland or Morocco instead of directly facing a top nation like Brazil).
- No elite countries until the quarter-finals: Provided we finish first in our group.
Realistic goal: Semi-finals. Peak scenario: The grand final!
Oosterpark – The Orange Avenue
The Irislaan in Oosterpark has been the true football heart of Groningen since the 90s. During major tournaments, this street transforms into an immense sea of orange flags, exuberant decorations, and lively street parties. This World Cup will undoubtedly turn the neighborhood completely upside down again!
Shakira's "Dai Dai" – The Soundtrack
Sixteen years after the legendary "Waka Waka", Shakira delivers another official World Cup anthem. The track is titled "Dai Dai" (Italian for "come on, come on") and is a collaboration with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. Expect an energetic blend of reggaeton, Afrobeats, and Latin pop.
The single was released on May 14, 2026, alongside a spectacular music video filmed at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, Shakira, Madonna, and BTS will perform together during the World Cup final halftime show.
Where Can You Watch the World Cup?
Good news for those staying at home: all 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcasted completely free and live on NPO 1, NOS.nl, and via the NPO Start app!
Ready for Oranje?
This World Cup is completely wide open. Spain is the favorite on paper, but there is no single all-dominant powerhouse country. With this squad, the Netherlands absolutely has the quality to reach the semi-finals – provided we execute well in the group stage.
Pull your orange outfit out of the closet, put Shakira's "Dai Dai" on repeat, and reserve your spot in your favorite Groningen café. Oranje is going for gold!
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