KLIK SAJA - The Netherlands will continue their quest for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they host Malta at the Euroborg Stadium in Groningen on Tuesday.
The Oranje kicked off their qualifying campaign with a confident 2-0 away win over Finland last Saturday, while visitors Malta have managed just one point from their opening three Group G fixtures.
Now fully focused on World Cup qualification following their UEFA Nations League exit at the hands of Spain in a penalty shootout back in March, the Dutch are determined to book their place in the next edition of the tournament.
Having qualified for four of the last five World Cups, expectations are understandably high in the Netherlands. Ronald Koeman’s men are competing in a group that includes Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta—opponents they will be expected to overcome.
While the rest of Group G began their campaigns in March, the Netherlands only got their journey underway last weekend in Helsinki.
Goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries in the first half secured a routine victory over Finland and ended a five-game winless run.
That result sets a strong foundation for their return to home soil, where they will face Malta for the first time since a 4-0 win in October 1995 during Euro 1996 qualifying.
In fact, the Netherlands boast a flawless record against Malta, winning all six of their previous meetings without conceding a single goal. Impressively, five of those victories came with four or more goals scored.
Given that history, the stage is set for a potential goal-fest in Groningen as the Dutch aim to boost their standing in the group with a dominant display.
Koeman’s squad can also take heart from their recent home form—unbeaten in their last eight home matches, with six wins and two draws—since a defeat to France in Euro 2024 qualifiers last October.
On the other side, Malta entered this qualifying campaign on the back of a respectable run in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, where they collected seven points from four games to finish second in their group and earn a place in the promotion/relegation playoff.
They will face Luxembourg in a two-legged tie in March 2026, but for now, their focus remains firmly on the current qualifiers.
As the lowest-ranked team in Group G, Malta’s main goal is to remain competitive in these challenging matchups, with little realistic expectation of qualifying for their first-ever major international tournament.
Their campaign began with back-to-back losses in March—1-0 at home to Finland and 2-0 away to Poland. However, they finally picked up their first point in a goalless draw against Lithuania at Ta' Qali last Saturday.
