The stakes in this game make it far more than just another group match: a single slip-up could jeopardize a place in the round of 16. The Dutch side arrive with the trademark of their attacking philosophy: building calmly from the back, moving the ball at speed and unleashing wingers ready to punish the slightest mistake.
Asian champions in 2019 and World Cup debutants in 2022, Qatar’s national team opt for a very compact block, plenty of men behind the ball and direct, vertical attacks after every turnover. The two teams already met in the Qatar 2022 group stage, with a European victory, and that precedent adds extra spice to a clash that now has even more on the line.
In such a tight group stage, every point brings you closer to – or further from – qualification, and this showdown forces Oranje to impose their talent while the Gulf side must contest every ball as if it were the last.
After reaching the quarter-finals in 2022, the Dutch team come into this tournament with Virgil van Dijk marshalling the back line, Frenkie de Jong dictating the tempo in midfield and Cody Gakpo bursting in from deep as a constant threat.
On the other side, Qatar are out to redeem themselves after a tough World Cup debut, relying on the creativity of Akram Afif and the killer instinct of Almoez Ali. Don’t just watch it on TV: secure your ticket and experience Netherlands–Qatar live, a showdown with all the tension of a do-or-die exam.