Netherlands

The Netherlands arrives at the 2026 World Cup carrying the weight of being arguably the greatest nation never to win the tournament. Three times Oranje has reached the final, and three times they have walked away heartbroken -- most agonizingly in 2010 when Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner for Spain denied them in Johannesburg. With 11 appearances and an ELO of 1961, the Dutch remain perennial contenders whose combination of tactical innovation and individual brilliance makes them dangerous every four years. Ronald Koeman's second stint as national team coach has restored the defensive solidity that was the hallmark of his first tenure. The team is built on the imperious presence of Virgil van Dijk at the back, who despite being in his mid-30s remains one of the world's dominant center-backs. In attack, Cody Gakpo has become the primary goal threat after an excellent adaptation to Premier League football at Liverpool, while Xavi Simons provides the creative spark and energy that the Dutch midfield has sometimes lacked in recent tournaments. For bracket purposes, the Netherlands is one of the safest picks to go deep. They almost always perform at World Cups -- their only group stage elimination since 1978 was in 2010 when they actually reached the final -- and their tactical flexibility under Koeman allows them to adjust to different opponents. The question is always whether they can overcome the mental hurdle of past final defeats. They should win Group F comfortably and are strong candidates for at least a semifinal run.