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| Depay and Dumfries Lead Netherlands to 2-0 Win Over Finland in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. |
The Netherlands kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in style with a confident 2-0 win against Finland. Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries got on the scoresheet, helping the Oranje grab all three points in their opening game.
This victory puts the Dutch just three points behind group leaders Poland in Group G — and the best part? They still have a game in hand, which gives them a solid shot at taking the top spot.
Strong Start Under Pressure
After participating in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals during the March international break, Ronald Koeman’s squad entered the qualifiers knowing there was no room for error. Poland had already won two games, so the pressure was on.
But the Netherlands wasted no time. Just six minutes into the match, Depay punished a sloppy Finnish defense with a precise first-time shot into the bottom-right corner. Finland's goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, who was celebrating his 100th international cap, had no chance.
Dumfries Doubles the Lead
The Dutch momentum continued, and in the 23rd minute, Denzel Dumfries made it 2-0. Cody Gakpo delivered a beautiful looping cross, and Dumfries was right there to finish it off.
New Liverpool signing Jeremie Frimpong almost added a third with a powerful header, but Hradecky made a fantastic save to keep Finland in the game. AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders — who’s reportedly set to join Manchester City — also came close, but his low shot went just wide.
Dutch Control the Game, Finland Struggles
After halftime, the Netherlands kept pressing for more goals. Depay had another decent chance, but his shot deflected and was saved. Frenkie de Jong also had a late opportunity, but his attempt lacked power.
Finland, on the other hand, struggled to create real danger. They only managed five total shots, and their xG (expected goals) was a low 0.2 — compared to the Netherlands’ 2.06 from 17 shots. Clearly, the Dutch were in full control.
Key Stats: Depay Nears All-Time Scoring Record, Dumfries Makes History
With his goal in this match, Memphis Depay now has 48 goals for the Netherlands, just two behind all-time top scorer Robin van Persie. He’s well on his way to making history.
Meanwhile, Denzel Dumfries scored his 10th goal for the national team — making him the highest-scoring defender for the Netherlands in the 21st century. He has now surpassed Virgil van Dijk, who has nine.
This win was a clear statement from the Netherlands: they’re here to compete. With top-tier talents like Depay, Dumfries, and Gakpo, plus a solid game plan from coach Ronald Koeman, the Oranje are in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
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