TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Netherlands are set to face Morocco in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 08:00 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time). The match will be broadcast live by TVRI.
Both teams advanced to the knockout stage without suffering any defeats in the group stage. The Netherlands secured the top spot in Group F after collecting seven points from three matches. Under the guidance of Ronald Koeman, the team began the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Japan, followed by victories over Sweden and Tunisia.
The Oranje's performance was convincing throughout the group stage. They have scored 10 goals and are considered as one of the potential title contenders. However, the Netherlands has never won the World Cup, with their best achievement being runners-up in the 1974, 1978, and 2010 editions. In the 2022 World Cup, their journey was halted in the quarter-finals.
If they manage to eliminate Morocco, the Netherlands will face the winner of the match between South Africa and Canada in the round of 16. This path is seen as opening up the opportunity for them to reach the quarter-finals, where they may potentially meet Germany or France.
On the other hand, Morocco has also been impressive. The team, known as the Atlas Lions, gathered seven points in Group C and finished in second place, narrowly behind Brazil. Morocco opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Brazil before defeating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2. These results comfortably secured their place in the knockout stage.
The team led by Mohamed Ouahbi approaches the match with high confidence. The draw against Brazil is proof that they can compete with the top teams in the world. Morocco also has a strong record in previous World Cups, having made history by reaching the semi-finals in the 2022 World Cup, the best achievement by an African nation in the competition.
Current Team Conditions
The Netherlands are expected to field their best lineup when facing Morocco in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. As quoted from Sportsmole, Denzel Dumfries and Brian Brobbey, who were previously in doubt due to minor injuries, have recovered and are ready to play.
Coach Ronald Koeman is predicted to make only one change from the starting lineup that defeated Tunisia. Micky van de Ven is likely to return to the left-back position, replacing Nathan Ake.
In the forward line, Brian Brobbey is predicted to remain as the spearhead. Meanwhile, Memphis Depay, Justin Kluivert, and Crysencio Summerville are likely to start the match from the bench.
In the Moroccan camp, coach Mohamed Ouahbi is expected to make several changes compared to the last match against Haiti. Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Azzedine Ounahi have the chance to return to the starting lineup.
Striker Ismael Saibari will continue to be a key player in the forward line after showcasing sharp performances by scoring three goals in the 2026 World Cup. The 25-year-old midfielder is also rumored to join Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.
Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz are also expected to be reinstated into the main lineup for Morocco's match against the Netherlands.
Head-to-Head
- The Netherlands and Morocco have met three times. As reported by Sportskeeda, the Netherlands won twice and the Atlas Lions secured one victory. There has never been a draw in matches between the two teams.
- The two teams previously met in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup, with the Oranje winning 2-1. The same result occurred in the most recent meeting between the Netherlands and Morocco in May 2017.
- The Netherlands has only lost once in their last 19 matches, while Morocco has not been defeated in the first 90 minutes of play in their last 32 matches.
- Morocco eliminated strong teams such as Belgium, Spain, and Portugal on their way to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, and the Netherlands will not underestimate this North African team.
Predicted Lineups
The Netherlands: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven; Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders; Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey, Cody Gakpo.
Morocco: Yassine Bounou (Bono); Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Ismael Saibari.
Prediction
The Netherlands versus Morocco is considered to be one of the most intriguing matches in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Morocco is seen to have the opportunity to win if they can replicate their impressive performance, as seen in the first 30 minutes against Brazil. With aggressive pressing, the Atlas Lions can pose a challenge to the Netherlands.
However, Morocco is required to be more effective in utilizing opportunities and maintaining the intensity of play throughout the entire 90 minutes. If they lose momentum again as they did in the group stage, the Netherlands have a strong attacking quality to capitalize on that weakness.
Read: Brazil vs Japan Prediction in 2026 World Cup Round of 32
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