RIVERSIDE, Missouri — When local organizers set out to build a welcoming home away from home for the Netherlands men’s national soccer team at their pre-World Cup practice facility, every detail was tailored to make the global soccer powerhouse feel comfortable. Dutch-language “welkom” greetings line the entry road, and even the official street name — originally Teal Rising Way, named for NWSL side Kansas City Current, who owns the facility — has been temporarily rebranded to Oranje Rising Way for the next six weeks, a nod to the Dutch squad’s iconic orange team colors.
But one small oversight has become an unintentional, constant reminder of the biggest heartbreak in Dutch soccer history: a series of white route signs marking the team’s past major World Cup milestones that only serve to highlight a decades-long gap on the nation’s trophy shelf. The Netherlands is still chasing its first-ever World Cup title, a stat that every sign quietly reinforces.
For captain Virgil van Disk, who is set to lead his squad into its opening Group Stage match against Japan this Sunday in Dallas, that unmet ambition is fuel, not frustration. This tournament marks the Liverpool center back’s second World Cup appearance, and he says the team’s focus starts and ends with their opening fixture, even as bigger goals hang in the air.
“How far can we go? Yeah, hopefully all the way,” van Dijk said following a recent grueling training session, held under the relentless, sweltering Midwestern sun that pushed the heat index into the triple digits. “We know how difficult it will be. But our full focus will be on Japan, first and foremost. That will get all our attention. We won’t look too far ahead. But we all have big dreams, and we’ll give all we have.”
The Dutch soccer program carries an unusual, unwanted distinction: it is the most successful nation never to lift the World Cup trophy, having reached the tournament’s final match three separate times without sealing a win. No other country has made three finals and walked away empty-handed.
The first heartbreak came in 1974, when the Netherlands returned to the World Cup after a 40-year absence. Led by legendary playmaker Johan Cruyff, the squad fought its way to the final against host nation West Germany, captained by one of the game’s all-time greats, Franz Beckenbauer. The Netherlands jumped out to an early lead from a penalty kick, but West Germany netted two goals before halftime. The Dutch couldn’t find an equalizer in the second half in front of 78,000 fans at Munich’s Olympiastadion, and they fell short of the title.
That result stung, but Dutch fans widely agree the 1978 final defeat was far more painful. For the second straight tournament, the Netherlands faced the host nation in the final, this time Argentina in Buenos Aires. Argentina held a 1-0 lead at halftime, before Dick Nanninga slotted home an equalizer in the 82nd minute to force extra time. Mario Kempes notched his second goal of the match for the hosts, and Daniel Bertoni added a late third to seal Argentina’s first title, leaving the Dutch once again going home without the trophy.
The third final defeat came in 2010, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Netherlands faced Spain. After 90 minutes of scoreless play, the match remained deadlocked through most of extra time, until Andrés Iniesta slotted home the winning goal in the 116th minute, once again leaving the Dutch trophy-less.
In recent years, however, strong tournament performances have given the squad legitimate reason to believe this could be their year. The Netherlands reached the semi-finals in 2014, infamously missed out on qualification in 2018, then bounced back strong at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with van Dijk leading the side. The Netherlands conceded just one goal through group play, rolled past the United States in the Round of 16, and only fell to eventual champion Argentina on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
Excluding penalty shootout defeats, the Dutch are actually unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup matches. Only Brazil holds a longer such streak, with 13 consecutive unbeaten games led by Pele between 1958 and 1966.
Van Dijk highlighted the chemistry of this year’s squad as a key strength, pointing to a roster full of experienced players who have won titles at the biggest club levels across European soccer. “I think we have a great group of players, especially human beings. We are getting along so well with each other,” van Dijk said. “But obviously it’s all about the results. It’s all about performing. All the players that are here, especially over the years — it’s players that have played at the highest level, experiencing amazing things in their careers. Winning trophies. Playing for the biggest clubs. They’re coming together here and trying to make their country proud. It’s the biggest thing you can do.”
While the Netherlands enter the tournament as favorites to advance out of their group, the road to knockout stage success is far from guaranteed. Group matches against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia will test the squad early on, and the team has already faced significant injury setbacks. Defender Jurrien Timber was forced to withdraw from the roster entirely with a groin injury, and starting goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is currently managing a recent hip injury, leaving his availability for Sunday’s match against Japan uncertain.
Head coach Ronald Koeman says his side has fully prepared for the opening challenge, and respects Japan’s strength while maintaining confidence in their own abilities. “We know Japan is strong. We’ve analyzed the team and the players,” Koeman said. “We spoke about their system, normally where they play out of, and the physical state of their players. It’s difficult. But we believe in ourselves. We respect Japan, but we are Holland, and they will respect us. I think it will be an interesting match, and a difficult one.”