The Netherlands kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in style, securing a solid 2-0 away victory over Finland in Group G. Goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries helped the Dutch maintain their 51-year unbeaten run against the Finns. However, head coach Ronald Koeman admitted his side only played “good football” for about 30 minutes.
Historic Dominance Continues
Ranked 6th in the world, the Dutch extended their dominance over Finland, who sit 69th in the FIFA rankings. With this result, the Netherlands have now gone unbeaten in 11 straight competitive meetings with Finland since 1974. In total, the two teams have clashed 14 times, with the Netherlands recording 11 wins, 2 draws, and just a single loss, which dates back to a 1950 friendly.
Although this was the Netherlands’ first match in Group G, other teams have already been in action. Poland currently leads the group with two wins from two matches, followed by Finland with four points from three games. The Netherlands now sit in third place with three points, ahead of Lithuania (2 points) and Malta (1 point).
Depay Moves Closer to Dutch Scoring Record
With his opening goal, Memphis Depay now has 48 goals in 101 appearances for the national team, putting him just two behind Robin van Persie’s record of 50 goals for the Oranje. The 30-year-old forward is showing no signs of slowing down and seems poised to become the Netherlands’ top scorer shortly.
Speaking after the match, head coach Ronald Koeman expressed mixed feelings. While pleased with the result, he acknowledged that the team’s intensity and focus dipped after the opening half-hour.
“I’m happy with the win, starting the qualifiers with a victory is always important,” Koeman said. “We began well and got an early goal, which helped us settle, especially against a team like Finland that defends deep and in numbers.”
“But after the first 30 minutes, we lost control a bit. Our pressing dropped, the ball movement slowed, and the energy wasn’t the same. I want us to maintain that intensity longer, especially in our next match against Malta. Every game matters in qualification.”
Austria Edges Romania, Bosnia Stay Perfect in Group H
In other World Cup qualifying action, Austria started their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Romania at home. Goals from Marcel Sabitzer and Michael Gregoritsch gave them a valuable three points, while Ianis Hagi pulled one back for the visitors in the second half.
Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina kept their perfect record intact in Group H with a 1-0 home win over Cyprus. Bosnia now top the group with nine points from three games. Romania (1 win, 2 losses), Cyprus (1 win, 1 loss), and Austria (1 win) all have three points, with goal difference currently determining their standings. San Marino remains at the bottom with three defeats.
The Netherlands will look to build on this momentum when they face Malta next week, a match that provides a perfect opportunity to improve their goal difference and cement a spot among the group leaders. Austria, meanwhile, travels to Cyprus in a tightly contested Group H, where every point could prove crucial.
As the road to the 2026 World Cup heats up, early wins and goal margins could make all the difference.
