Morocco or Brazil? The Netherlands face tough World Cup knock out clash regardless of where they finish in the group

The Netherlands end their 2026 World Cup Group Stage campaign in the early hours of Friday morning with a clash against a Tunisian side that are already out. The North Africans have been poor, and the Netherlands will expect a comfortable victory and for Ronald Koeman to be able to give the rest of the squad some minutes. However, regardless of whether Oranje finish top or second, they face strong opposition in the next round. Unlike others, who appear to have far easier routes to the later stages, the Dutch face the prospect of Africa’s champions or South America’s samba stars.

As it currently stands, the Netherlands would face Morocco in the first knock-out round. The Atlas Lions have not lost a game at the tournament and could have beaten Brazil if they had taken their chances. Many of the stars of the Moroccan side are well known to fans of the Eredivisie, such as Bayern Munich bound Ismael Saibari, who already has three goals at the World Cup. It certainly seems unfair that, while the Dutch would face a strong Moroccan side who finished second, other group winners get to play teams that finish third. It is certainly a flaw in the new system and one that will create situations in which weaker teams progress further than much stronger teams mainly due to how the draw was decided in advance.

Should the Netherlands fail to win and finish second, they get to face Brazil instead. Again, it seems unfair on the Brazilians that they have to face a side that finish second in a group while the USA get to face a team that finished third, despite both Brazil and the USA winning their respective groups. Brazil are obviously a side with plenty of history, but they are beatable and the Dutch would by no means be underdogs against them.

Winning breads confidence and Koeman will have every intention of doing just that against Tunisia. Whether it is Morocco or Brazil that they face, the Netherlands have a tough first hurdle to tackle on their way to the latter stages of the World Cup. They can certainly beat both teams, and whoever they face it will likely be the most anticipated clash of the opening knock out rounds of the 2026 World Cup.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson