Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup
The Netherlands have entered qualification for 19 of the 22 FIFA World Cup tournaments to date, qualifying 11 times. They have a record of 3 World Cup final appearances without winning the tournament.
After appearing in two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, the team had their longest World Cup appearance streak in the 1990s, reaching three straight tournaments. In 1990, two years after winning the European Championship at the UEFA Euro 1988, the Dutch went out in the Round of 16, defeated by West Germany. In 1994 Netherlands was eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals, and in 1998 lost to Brazil in the semi-finals and Croatia in the third-place play-off. Netherlands returned in 2006, being eliminated by Portugal in the Round of 16, a game known as the Battle of Nuremberg. In 2010 the team reached their third World Cup final, this time losing to Spain. The Dutch avenged this loss during the first match of the following 2014 World Cup, routing the Spanish 5–1, and eventually going on to their first third-place finish. After missing the 2018 World Cup, they returned in 2022, being eliminated in the quarter-final stage. The Dutch have never lost a World Cup match in regular time by more than one goal, and have not lost a match since the 2010 final, their 2014 and 2022 campaigns both ending in defeat by way of penalty shoot-out and both by Argentina.
Record at the FIFA World Cup
By match
Participations
West Germany 1974
| Team | ||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 |
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Round 2
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Argentina 1978
| Team | ||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 1 |
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Round 2
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Italy 1990
| Team | ||||||||
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
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United States 1994
Group stage
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Knockout stage
;Round of 16;Quarter-finals
France 1998
Group stage
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Knockout stage
;Round of 16;Quarterfinals
;Semifinal
;Third place match
Germany 2006
Group stage
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Knockout stage
;Round of 16South Africa 2010
Group stage
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Knockout stage
;Round of 16;Quarter-finals
;Semi-final
;Final
Brazil 2014
Netherlands used all 23 players during the 2014 World Cup, making it the first team in World Cup history to ever use all of its squad players. The team avenged their 2010 loss to Spain by defeating the defending champions with a stunning 5–1 victory in their opening game. They went on to achieve their first third place in any World Cup.Group stage
- Group winner advance to play runner-up of Group A in the round of 16
- Group runner-up advance to play winner of Group A in the round of 16
Knockout stage
;Round of 16;Quarter-final
;Semi final
;Third place match
Qatar 2022
Group stage
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Knockout stage
;Round of 16;Quarter-finals
Record players
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
| 1 | Wesley Sneijder | 17 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 2 | Robin van Persie | 16 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 3 | Wim Jansen | 14 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 3 | Ruud Krol | 14 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 3 | Dirk Kuyt | 14 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 3 | Johnny Rep | 14 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 3 | Arjen Robben | 14 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 8 | Arie Haan | 13 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 8 | Rob Rensenbrink | 13 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 10 | Dennis Bergkamp | 12 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 10 | Jan Jongbloed | 12 | 1974 and 1978 |
| 10 | Johan Neeskens | 12 | 1974 and 1978 |