Netherlands - Uzbekistan live - Football

Netherlands face Uzbekistan on 8 June 2026 in New York in their final warm-up before the World Cup - a historic first meeting between two sides heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with very different ambitions and stories to tell.

Match Info: Netherlands vs Uzbekistan

Netherlands vs Uzbekistan kicks off on 8 June 2026 at 19:45 BST at Icahn Stadium in New York City. The match is an international friendly and serves as the final pre-tournament preparation fixture for both teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Where to Watch Netherlands vs Uzbekistan?

In the United Kingdom, this friendly is not listed among the dedicated broadcast channels; UK fans can follow live updates through various sports platforms. In the United States, where the game is played, the match is broadcast on FOX One and Fox Soccer Plus, and is also available via streaming on Fubo TV. Canadians can watch on DAZN or fuboTV Canada.

Across continental Europe, DAZN carries the match in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, while Belgian viewers can access DAZN Belgium. Dutch fans have two options: NPO 3 on television or NPO Start for online streaming. Scandinavian viewers can use TV2 Play in Denmark and Norway, with Viaplay Norway as an additional option in Norway.

Throughout Latin America, Disney+ is the primary broadcaster, covering Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the Caribbean and Central American region. In Brazil, ESPN Brasil also provides a television broadcast. Fans across the Middle East and North Africa can tune in via beIN SPORTS CONNECT Arabia online or beIN Sports English 2 on television.

Netherlands vs Uzbekistan - Match Preview

Netherlands vs Uzbekistan is the last pre-World Cup test for both nations - Oranje refining their preparations for Group F, and Uzbekistan writing history as first-time participants at football's biggest stage.

Ronald Koeman's Netherlands arrive in New York as clear favourites, armed with a squad featuring Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, Tijjani Reijnders, and Memphis Depay. The Dutch are placed in World Cup Group F alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, with their tournament opener against Japan scheduled for 14 June. For Koeman, this friendly against Uzbekistan is an opportunity to iron out tactical details and evaluate fringe players before the competition begins in earnest.

Uzbekistan, coached by Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, are experiencing a historic summer - their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance. The White Wolves are drawn in Group K against Colombia, Portugal, and DR Congo. Captain Eldor Shomurodov of AS Roma leads the attack, while Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov anchors the back line. The New York friendly represents exactly the kind of high-level test Cannavaro needs to gauge his squad's readiness before the tournament begins.

Head-to-Head: Netherlands vs Uzbekistan

The match on 8 June 2026 marks the first ever senior international meeting between the Netherlands and Uzbekistan. No prior encounter between these two nations is recorded in any authoritative football database, making this fixture a historic debut for both federations.

Known meetings between Netherlands and Uzbekistan at senior international level:

• No previous meetings recorded - the match on 8 June 2026 is the first in history between these two nations.

Netherlands - Recent Form

Netherlands head into this fixture unbeaten in their last 5 matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding just 3 - a record that underlines both their attacking quality and defensive solidity ahead of the World Cup.

The standout performances in that run were back-to-back victories of 4:0 over Lithuania in November 2025 and Finland in October 2025, with the Dutch attack operating at full power in both games. In March 2026, they edged Norway 2:1, showing character in a tighter contest. Two draws - a 1:1 against Poland away from home in November 2025 and a 1:1 against Ecuador in March 2026 - demonstrate that even when the goals dry up, the Netherlands remain difficult to beat.

Three wins and two draws from five matches, combined with only 3 goals conceded across the entire sequence, paints the picture of a side arriving at the World Cup in genuine form. Koeman's team enters the tournament without a defeat in their last half-year of preparation.

Uzbekistan - Recent Form

Uzbekistan's last 5 results show a squad still searching for full consistency ahead of the World Cup - 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 defeat, with 9 goals scored and 7 conceded.

The most encouraging outputs came in a 4:2 win over FC Urartu in January 2026 and a 3:1 victory over Gabon in March, confirming that Cannavaro's side carries genuine attacking threat. A 2:2 draw with China in January and a goalless 0:0 stalemate with Venezuela in March, however, reveal a team that can struggle to break down disciplined defences. Most recently, a 0:2 defeat to Canada on 2 June - just six days before the Netherlands game - will focus minds sharply in the Uzbek camp.

Nine goals scored and 7 conceded across 5 games suggest an open, attack-minded team that has yet to fully resolve its defensive vulnerabilities. The match against the Netherlands - a side that conceded just 3 goals in their last 5 - will test those weaknesses at the highest level Uzbekistan has faced in their recent preparation cycle.

Facts and Statistics

5 facts and statistics to know before Netherlands vs Uzbekistan:

• The 8 June 2026 fixture is the first ever senior international match between the Netherlands and Uzbekistan.
• Uzbekistan qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as first-time participants, ending seven failed qualification attempts since gaining independence in 1991.
• The Netherlands have reached the FIFA World Cup final on 3 occasions (1974, 1978, 2010) without ever lifting the trophy.
• Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title and won the Ballon d'Or the same year.
• In their last 5 internationals, Netherlands scored 12 goals and kept 2 clean sheets - a 4:0 win over Lithuania and a 4:0 win over Finland.