Netherlands beat Uzbekistan 2‑0 in New York friendly ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Dutch national team defeated Uzbekistan 2‑0 in a friendly match at New York’s Icahn Stadium on 8 June 2026. Both goals came from penalties after a handball and a foul in the box, highlighting the Netherlands’ reliance on set‑piece opportunities against a defensively compact opponent.

The game served as the final warm‑up before the Netherlands open their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group F. Coach Ronald Koeman kept adjustments low‑risk, with striker Memphis Depay potentially starting, while the side showed limited creativity in open play and struggled to link midfield passes. Uzbekistan, coached by Fabio Cannavaro, fielded forward Eldor Shomurodov, but were unable to break down the Dutch defense.

The result offers a confidence boost after a recent loss to Algeria, but the performance raised questions about offensive versatility ahead of the tournament in the United States.