Ronald Koeman’s side drew 2-2 with Japan but their sensational 32-year World Cup group stage record remains firmly intact.
The Dutch have now gone 16 consecutive group stage matches without defeat, stretching back 32 years to the 1994 in the USA.
Koeman’s side have won 12 and drawn four of those matches, a run that began the tournament after their only group stage defeat in modern memory – a 1-0 loss to Belgium in Orlando, Florida at the 1994 World Cup.
Philippe Albert’s 65th-minute goal that day in the Citrus Bowl remains the last time the Netherlands lost a group stage fixture.
16 – The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 16 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (W12 D4), the longest current unbeaten run. Their last loss came in 1994 against Belgium in Orlando, Florida (0-1). Steady. pic.twitter.com/3LoueyNEp8
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 14, 2026
Since then, they have navigated every group with their record intact – through three finals appearances and a failure to qualify entirely in 2018 – returning to the World Cup stage each time and extending the streak.
Japan made them work for the point on Sunday. Virgil van Dijk headed the Dutch ahead before Keito Nakamura levelled. Crysencio Summerville’s sumptuous debut goal restored the lead, only for Daichi Kamada’s deflected 89th-minute equaliser to deny victory.
The record survives. Sweden await in the next group fixture, where the Netherlands will look to return to winning ways.
Read more: Soccermag
Picture: X/@FIFAWorldCup
