FIFA 2026: How to watch the football World Cup in the Netherlands
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By Simone Jacobs
This summer, all eyes have turned to Mexico, Canada and the US as the FIFA World Cup kicks off. While some people head overseas to watch the football games live, you can still enjoy the World Cup from right here in the Netherlands. Here’s how you can watch the World Cup in the Netherlands.
2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US from June 11 to July 19. Teams from 48 different nations compete in 104 games to determine the World Cup champion.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is taking place on Sunday, July 19, as Spain and Argentina go head-to-head. The game, taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will start at 3pm local time and 9pm in the Netherlands.
Where can I watch the World Cup football?
The Football World Cup will be broadcast live by Dutch broadcaster NOS on NPO 1, NPO 2 and NPO 3, where you can watch the matches for free without a subscription. If you have a subscription for ESPN, Viaplay or Ziggo Sport, you can also watch the games on these platforms.
If you want to watch the World Cup on the go from your mobile phone or don’t have a TV subscription, there are many live streams of the games on the internet, from YouTube. Another option is to use a VPN to watch matches broadcast by other countries' national broadcasters.
For anyone who wants to enjoy the games with fellow football fans, several bars and clubs will likely also play live streams on the big screen. Some cities, like Amsterdam, are even allowing bars to stay open later during the World Cup so residents can watch the football.
When is the Netherlands playing in the 2026 World Cup?
If you want to dress up in orange and have a watch party to support the Dutch football team, you’ll probably need to know when they’re playing. The Netherlands will hit the field on the following days (CEST):
- June 14, 10pm - the Netherlands vs Japan
- June 20, 7pm - the Netherlands vs Sweden
- June 26, 1am - the Netherlands vs Tunisia
Unfortunately, after three wins, the Netherlands was knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco. While you may not be able to support Oranje, you can still cheer for your other favourite teams. You can see the full match schedule on the FIFA website.
Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training.Read more