The Netherlands will play Uzbekistan in a pre-World Cup friendly on June 8, 2026, at 2:45 PM ET, with US viewers able to watch live on Fubo, Fox Soccer Plus and Fox One. It is the next checkpoint in a short run of games that will end with the Dutch opening Group F against Japan on June 14.
That makes this more than a tune-up. After a 0-1 loss to Algeria on June 3 exposed too little aggression and discipline, the Netherlands need a cleaner performance before the World Cup starts. Donyell Malen missed several clear chances before Algeria scored a late winner, and that kind of waste in front of goal has sharpened the pressure on Ronald Koeman’s side to look sharper in both boxes.
Uzbekistan arrive with their own recent setback, a 2-0 defeat to Canada on June 2, but this match is being viewed primarily through the Dutch lens. The Netherlands have gone W-D-L-W-W across their last five outings, scoring eight goals and conceding three, while Uzbekistan’s last five results include two wins, one draw and two losses. On paper, both teams have enough recent form to keep the contest competitive, but the timing gives it extra weight for the Dutch.
That timing also explains why the lineup questions matter even without official team news. Koeman still has one final chance to test combinations and restore confidence after Algeria, while the Netherlands continue to prepare for a tournament that starts days later. The friendly is their last scheduled match before the June 14 opener against Japan, which means any hesitation, missed chance or discipline issue will linger far longer than it would in an ordinary summer friendly.
For Malen, the next 90 minutes could be another chance to put a difficult outing behind him. For the Netherlands, this is the last clear rehearsal before the World Cup opens, and the performance in Netherlands vs Uzbekistan will say more about their readiness than the result alone.
