Amsterdam, Netherlands – Dutch national team captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his confidence in his country’s ability to compete strongly in the 2026 World Cup. He stressed that winning the title does not depend on having the best players, but on having the best team.
The Dutch national team is in Group F, along with the national teams of Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
Van Dijk told FIFA’s official website that the Netherlands has a cohesive group of players. This group believes in its ability to achieve something special. He also indicated that the experience gained from participating in the previous edition of the tournament could help them. As a result, they might perform better this time.
The Dutch defender stressed that the World Cup represents the pinnacle of ambition for any international player, given its special value and status in the world of football.
Regarding the loss to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, he explained that the match was extremely difficult. He noted that this was especially true after the Dutch team managed to come back during the game. Furthermore, he considered that such matches provide players with valuable experience that will benefit them in the future.
Van Dijk emphasized that major tournaments are not won by individual names alone, but by team spirit and collective effort. Other factors also play a role, such as fitness, avoiding injuries, and capitalizing on crucial moments.
He also noted that his role as captain is to help his teammates perform at their best both on and off the field. He emphasized that the team’s success remains the ultimate goal.
Regarding penalty kicks, he explained that they are an essential part of preparations. However, practicing them does not always guarantee victory, as they remain one of the most difficult situations in football.
The Dutch captain concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the national team boasts players who perform at a high level with their clubs. However, the real challenge lies in translating this individual quality into a collective force capable of competing for the title.
The Netherlands national team will play two friendly matches against Algeria on June 3rd and then Uzbekistan on June 8th, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
