The Netherlands have entered qualification for 20 of the 23 FIFA World Cup tournaments to date, qualifying 12 times. They have a record of three World Cup final appearances (as of 2026) without winning the tournament.
After losing two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, the team had their longest World Cup appearance streak in the 1990s, reaching three straight tournaments. In 1990, two years after winning the 1988 European Championship, the Dutch went out in the round of 16, defeated by West Germany. In 1994, the Netherlands was eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals, and in 1998 lost to Brazil in the semi-finals and Croatia in the match for third place. The Dutch returned in 2006, being eliminated by Portugal in the round of 16, a game known as the Battle of Nuremberg. In 2010, the team reached their third World Cup final, this time losing to Spain after extra time. The Dutch avenged this loss during the first match of the following 2014 World Cup, routing the Spanish 5–1, and eventually going on to record their first third-place finish. After missing the 2018 tournament, they returned in 2022, being eliminated in the quarter-final stage. In the following 2026 tournament, the Dutch had their worst ever finish, losing in the round of 32.
The Netherlands have never lost a World Cup match in regular time by more than one goal, and have not officially lost a match since the 2010 final, as their 2014, 2022, and 2026 campaigns all ended in defeat by way of penalty shoot-out, with the former two eliminations being to Argentina.
Record at the FIFA World Cup Overall record Champions Runners-up Third place Hosts record recordYearRoundPositionSquad 1930Did not enterDid not enter 1934Round of 16 9th100123Squad220094 1938Round of 1614th100103Squad211051 1950Did not enterDid not enter 1954 1958Did not qualify4211127 1962302147 1966622264 1970631295 1974Runners-up2nd7511153Squad6420242 1978Runners-up2nd73221510Squad6510113 1982Did not qualify8413117 19868413137 1990Round of 1615th403134Squad642082 1994Quarter-finals7th530286Squad10631299 1998Fourth place4th7331137Squad8611264 2002Did not qualify10622309 2006Round of 1611th421132Squad121020273 2010Runners-up2nd7601126Squad8800172 2014Third place3rd7520154Squad10910345 2018Did not qualify106132112 2022Quarter-finals5th5320104Squad10721338 2026Round of 3217th4220115Squad8620274 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034TotalRunners-up12/235832161110957—143952820356105
Netherlands' World Cup recordFirst Match 3–2 (27 May 1934; Milan, Italy)Best Result Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010Worst Result First round in 1934 and 1938
By match
World CupRoundOpponentScoreResultVenueNetherlands scorers1934Round of 162–3LMilanK. Smit, L. Vente1938Round of 16 0–3 LLe Havre1974Group 32–0WHanoverJ. Rep (2)0–0DDortmund4–1WDortmundJ. Neeskens (2), J. Rep, T. de JongGroup A4–0WGelsenkirchenJ. Cruyff (2), R. Krol, J. Rep2–0WGelsenkirchenJ. Neeskens, R. Rensenbrink2–0WDortmundJ. Neeskens, J. CruyffFinal1–2LMunichJ. Neeskens1978Group 43–0WMendozaR. Rensenbrink (3)0–0DMendoza2–3LMendozaR. Rensenbrink, J. RepGroup A5–1WCórdobaJ. Rep (2), E. Brandts, R. Rensenbrink, W. van de Kerkhof2–2DCórdobaA. Haan, R. van de Kerkhof2–1WBuenos AiresE. Brandts, A. HaanFinal1–3 LBuenos AiresD. Nanninga1990Group F1–1DPalermoW. Kieft0–0DCagliari1–1DPalermoR. GullitRound of 161–2LMilanR. Koeman1994Group F2–1WWashington, D.C.W. Jonk, G. Taument0–1LOrlando2–1WOrlandoD. Bergkamp, B. RoyRound of 162–0WOrlandoD. Bergkamp, W. JonkQuarter-finals2–3LDallasD. Bergkamp, A. Winter1998Group E0–0DSaint-Denis5–0WMarseilleP. Cocu, M. Overmars, D. Bergkamp, P. van Hooijdonk, R. de Boer2–2DSaint-ÉtienneP. Cocu, R. de BoerRound of 162–1WToulouseD. Bergkamp, E. DavidsQuarter-finals2–1WMarseilleP. Kluivert, D. BergkampSemi-finals1–1 DMarseilleP. KluivertMatch for third place1–2LParisB. Zenden2006Group C1–0WLeipzigA. Robben2–1WStuttgartR. van Persie, R. van Nistelrooy0–0DFrankfurtRound of 160–1LNuremberg2010Group E2–0WJohannesburgD. Agger (o.g.), D. Kuyt1–0WDurbanW. Sneijder2–1WCape TownR. van Persie, K. HuntelaarRound of 16 2–1WDurbanA. Robben, W. SneijderQuarter-finals2–1WPort ElizabethW. Sneijder (2)Semi-finals3–2WCape TownG. van Bronckhorst, W. Sneijder, A. RobbenFinal0–1 LJohannesburg2014Group B5–1WSalvadorR. van Persie (2), A. Robben (2), S. de Vrij3–2WPorto AlegreA. Robben, R. van Persie, M. Depay2–0WSão PauloL. Fer, M. DepayRound of 162–1WFortalezaW. Sneijder, K. HuntelaarQuarter-finals0–0 DSalvadorSemi-finals0–0 DSão PauloMatch for third place3–0WBrasíliaR. van Persie, D. Blind, G. Wijnaldum2022Group A2–0WDohaC. Gakpo, D. Klaassen1–1DAl RayyanC. Gakpo2–0WAl KhorC. Gakpo, F. de JongRound of 163–1WAl RayyanM. Depay, D. Blind, D. DumfriesQuarter-finals2–2 DLusailW. Weghorst (2)2026Group F2–2DArlingtonV. van Dijk, C. Summerville5–1WHouston B. Brobbey (2), C. Gakpo (2), C. Summerville3–1WKansas City E. Skhiri (o.g.), B. Brobbey, J. van HeckeRound of 321–1 D Guadalupe C. Gakpo
Record by opponent FIFA World Cup matches (by team)OpponentTotalWinsDrawsLossesGoals ScoredGoals Conceded6231965311105301246201101211032211043211032211031210152211051220052110032110051110041110021110020101000100112100103110020110020101000101011101011110021110030110021110021101000100101110020110021100123110020110010110021110050100123110031110031
Participations Italy 1934
France 1938
West Germany 1974
Team321061+55312030+34302125−32301216−51
Round 2 Team330080+8632013304301214−31301227−51
Final
Argentina 1978
Team321072+55311153+23311156−13301228−61
Round 2 Team321094+5531112203302145−12310248−42
Final
Italy 1990
Team312021+143030220330302203302112−12
Round of 16
United States 1994
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
France 1998
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-final
Match for third place
Germany 2006
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
South Africa 2010
Group stage
Knockout stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-final
Final
Brazil 2014
Netherlands used all 23 players during the 2014 World Cup, making it the first team in World Cup history to ever use all of its squad players.3 Michel Vorm And Two Minutes Of Glory sbnation.com The team avenged their 2010 loss to Spain by defeating the defending champions with a stunning 5–1 victory in their opening game. They went on to achieve their first third place in any World Cup.
Group stage
Group winner advance to play runner-up of Group A in the round of 16 Group runner-up advance to play winner of Group A in the round of 16
GK 1 Iker Casillas (c) RB 22César AzpilicuetaCB 3 Gerard PiquéCB 15Sergio RamosLB 18Jordi AlbaRM 8 XaviCM 16Sergio BusquetsLM 14Xabi Alonso RW 21David Silva LW 6 Andrés IniestaCF 19Diego Costa Substitutions:FW 9 Fernando Torres FW 11Pedro MF 10Cesc Fàbregas Manager:Vicente del Bosque GK 1 Jasper CillessenRB 2 Ron VlaarCB 3 Stefan de Vrij LB 4 Bruno Martins IndiRWB7 Daryl JanmaatLWB5 Daley BlindCM 6 Nigel de JongCM 8 Jonathan de Guzmán AM 10Wesley SneijderCF 9 Robin van Persie (c) CF 11Arjen RobbenSubstitutions:MF 20Georginio Wijnaldum DF 13Joël Veltman FW 17Jeremain Lens Manager:Louis van Gaal Man of the Match: Robin van Persie (Netherlands)
Assistant referees: Renato Faverani (Italy) Andrea Stefani (Italy) Fourth official: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway) Fifth official: Kim Thomas Haglund (Norway)
GK 1 Mathew RyanRB 19Ryan McGowanCB 22Alex WilkinsonCB 6 Matthew ŠpiranovićLB 3 Jason DavidsonCM 15Mile Jedinak (c)CM 17Matt McKayRW 7 Mathew LeckieAM 23Mark Bresciano LW 11Tommy Oar CF 4 Tim Cahill Substitutions:MF 13Oliver Bozanić MF 10Ben Halloran FW 9 Adam Taggart Manager:Ange Postecoglou GK 1 Jasper CillessenRB 2 Ron VlaarCB 3 Stefan de VrijLB 4 Bruno Martins Indi RM 7 Daryl JanmaatCM 8 Jonathan de Guzmán CM 6 Nigel de JongLM 5 Daley BlindAM 10Wesley SneijderCF 9 Robin van Persie (c) CF 11Arjen RobbenSubstitutions:MF 21Memphis Depay MF 20Georginio Wijnaldum FW 17Jeremain Lens Manager:Louis van Gaal Man of the Match: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Assistant referees: Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Redouane Achik (Morocco) Fourth official: Bakary Gassama (Gambia) Fifth official: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
GK 1 Jasper CillessenRB 7 Daryl JanmaatCB 2 Ron VlaarCB 3 Stefan de VrijLB 5 Daley Blind RM 20Georginio WijnaldumCM 6 Nigel de JongLM 15Dirk Kuyt AM 10Wesley Sneijder CF 11Arjen Robben (c)CF 17Jeremain Lens Substitutions:MF 21Memphis Depay MF 18Leroy Fer DF 14Terence Kongolo Manager:Louis van Gaal GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)CB 17Gary MedelCB 5 Francisco Silva CB 18Gonzalo JaraRWB 4Mauricio IslaLWB 2Eugenio MenaCM 20Charles AránguizCM 21Marcelo DíazAM 16Felipe Gutiérrez CF 7Alexis SánchezCF 11Eduardo Vargas Substitutions:MF 15Jean Beausejour MF 10Jorge Valdivia FW 9 Mauricio Pinilla Manager: Jorge Sampaoli
Man of the Match: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Assistant referees: Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Felicien Kabanda (Rwanda) Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) Fifth official: William Torres (El Salvador)
Knockout stage
Round of 16
GK 1 Jasper CillessenRB 12Paul Verhaegh CB 2 Ron VlaarCB 3 Stefan de VrijLB 5 Daley BlindCM 15Dirk KuytCM 6 Nigel de Jong CM 20Georginio WijnaldumAM 10Wesley SneijderCF 11Arjen RobbenCF 9 Robin van Persie (c) Substitutions:DF 4 Bruno Martins Indi MF 21Memphis Depay FW 19Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Manager:Louis van Gaal GK 13Guillermo OchoaCB 2 Francisco Javier RodríguezCB 4 Rafael Márquez (c) CB 15Héctor Moreno RWB22Paul Aguilar LWB7 Miguel LayúnCM 6 Héctor HerreraCM 3 Carlos SalcidoCM 18Andrés Guardado CF 10Giovani dos Santos CF 19Oribe Peralta Substitutes:DF 5 Diego Reyes MF 20Javier Aquino FW 14Javier Hernández Manager:Miguel Herrera
Man of the Match: Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)
Assistant referees: Bertino Cunha (Portugal) Tiago Trigo (Portugal) Fourth official: Carlos Vera (Ecuador) Fifth official: Byron Romero (Ecuador)
Quarter-final
GK 1 Jasper Cillessen CB 3 Stefan de VrijCB 2 Ron VlaarCB 4 Bruno Martins Indi RWB15Dirk KuytLWB5 Daley BlindCM 20Georginio WijnaldumCM 10Wesley SneijderRW 11Arjen RobbenLW 21Memphis Depay CF 9 Robin van Persie (c)Substitutions:MF 17Jeremain Lens FW 19Klaas-Jan Huntelaar GK 23Tim Krul Manager:Louis van Gaal GK 1 Keylor NavasCB 2 Jhonny Acosta CB 3 Giancarlo González CB 4 Michael Umaña RWB16Cristian Gamboa LWB15Júnior Díaz CM 17Yeltsin Tejeda CM 5 Celso BorgesRW 10Bryan Ruiz (c)LW 7 Christian BolañosCF 9 Joel Campbell Substitutes:FW 21Marco Ureña DF 8 David Myrie MF 22José Miguel Cubero Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
Man of the Match: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
Assistant referees: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan) Bahadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan) Fourth official: Noumandiez Doué (Ivory Coast) Fifth official: Songuifolo Yeo (Ivory Coast)
Semi-final
GK 1 Jasper CillessenCB 3 Stefan de VrijCB 2 Ron VlaarCB 4 Bruno Martins Indi RWB15Dirk KuytLWB5 Daley BlindCM 6 Nigel de Jong CM 20Georginio WijnaldumAM 10Wesley SneijderCF 11Arjen RobbenCF 9 Robin van Persie (c) Substitutions:DF 7 Daryl Janmaat MF 16Jordy Clasie FW 19Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Manager:Louis van Gaal GK 1 Sergio RomeroRB 4 Pablo ZabaletaCB 15Martín Demichelis CB 2 Ezequiel GarayLB 16Marcos RojoCM 6 Lucas BigliaCM 14Javier MascheranoCM 8 Enzo Pérez SS 10Lionel Messi (c)CF 9 Gonzalo Higuaín CF 22Ezequiel Lavezzi Substitutes:FW 18Rodrigo Palacio FW 20Sergio Agüero MF 11Maxi Rodríguez Manager:Alejandro Sabella
Man of the Match: Sergio Romero (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (Turkey) Tarık Ongun (Turkey) Fourth official: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) Fifth official: Mathias Klasenius (Sweden)
Match for third place