Where to Watch the World Cup 2026
The Netherlands is in Group F alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia. Two of the three group stage matches kick off at prime-time evening hours – including a Saturday night showdown against Sweden. This is your guide to where to watch in every major Dutch city, how to stream for free, and what to expect at the best fan venues in the country.
Oranje Group Stage – Dutch Kickoff Times
Netherlands vs Japan
Group F · AT&T Stadium, Dallas · NOS / NPO 1
22:00
Sunday 14 June 2026
Netherlands vs Sweden
Group F · NRG Stadium, Houston · NOS / NPO 1
19:00
Saturday 20 June 2026
Netherlands vs Tunisia
Group F · Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City · NOS / NPO 1
01:00
Friday 26 June 2026
How to watch in the Netherlands
Free on TV: NOS holds the exclusive broadcasting rights. All Oranje matches and the World Cup final air live and free on NPO 1. No subscription needed. Free to stream: Every match is available free via NPO Start and NOS.nl/live anywhere in the Netherlands. The NOS app on iOS and Android also carries every live match. No login or payment required.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam has the highest concentration of expats and international football fans in the Netherlands, and the city’s bar scene takes World Cup coverage seriously. The Irish and British pub network provides the most reliable all-matches-all-hours coverage, but several Dutch sports cafes and terraces are equally good for the Oranje games. The Jordan and Leidseplein areas are the most concentrated.
Sports Bars and Pubs
Cafe de Pels
Huidenstraat 25, 1016 ER Amsterdam (Jordaan)
One of Amsterdam’s best-loved brown cafes for football, with multiple screens and a loyal local following that makes the atmosphere on Oranje match days genuinely electric. The Jordaan location means a neighbourhood crowd rather than a tourist-heavy one.
Cafe Nol
Westerstraat 109, 1015 LX Amsterdam (Jordaan)
A classic Jordaan brown cafe that transforms into a sea of orange on match days. One of the most atmospheric places in Amsterdam to watch the Netherlands, with a crowd that sings, chants, and takes the result personally. Expect to arrive early for big games.
Hanneke’s Boom
Dijksgracht 4, 1019 BS Amsterdam (NDSM/Eastern Docks)
A large outdoor festival cafe on the IJ waterfront with a big screen set up for major tournaments. The canal-side setting and outdoor space make it one of the best summer viewing options in the city, particularly for the 19:00 Sweden match on 20 June when the evening light on the water adds to the atmosphere.
The Bulldog Sports Bar
Leidseplein 15, 1017 PS Amsterdam (Leidseplein)
The most central and most tourist-facing option, but reliable for coverage of every match including non-Oranje games. Multiple large screens, extended opening hours, and a central Leidseplein location make it the practical default for expats who want to watch any World Cup game without planning ahead.
Mulligans Irish Music Bar
Amstel 100, 1017 AD Amsterdam
A reliable sports pub with screens throughout, Guinness on tap, and a crowd that spans nationalities but unites around major tournament football. Good for the late Tunisia match given the bar’s later closing hours. Consistently recommended by Amsterdam’s expat community for major sports events.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s football culture runs deeper than any other Dutch city: Feyenoord’s fanbase and a genuine working-class football tradition mean World Cup watching in Rotterdam carries more weight. The Witte de Withstraat and the area around Stadhuisplein are the best bets. Rotterdam also has a large Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese community which brings extraordinary atmosphere when those nations play.
Cafe Rotterdam
Wilhelminadok, Willemsplein 85, 3016 DR Rotterdam
A spectacular venue in a converted dock warehouse on the Maas waterfront with panoramic river views and multiple screens. One of the most impressive sports viewing settings in the Netherlands. Big enough to absorb large crowds while retaining its character. Book ahead for Oranje matches.
Witte Aap
Witte de Withstraat 78, 3012 BP Rotterdam
One of the most beloved bars on Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam’s best bar street. Multiple screens, a loyal local following, and an atmosphere that consistently delivers on big match days. The neighbourhood crowd gives it a more authentic feel than the city-centre tourist options.
De Witte Aap and Stalles cluster
Witte de Withstraat, 3012 Rotterdam
The entire Witte de Withstraat effectively becomes a viewing circuit for major matches, with multiple bars operating screens simultaneously. On Oranje nights the street is the best place in Rotterdam to move between venues depending on atmosphere. Stalles at number 11 is another consistent performer for football coverage.
O’Brien’s Irish Pub Rotterdam
Drievriendensstraat 26, 3012 HE Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s most established expat sports pub with comprehensive coverage of all World Cup matches. The reliable non-Oranje option – when the Netherlands is not playing, O’Brien’s is one of the few Rotterdam venues with all matches guaranteed across multiple screens.
Den Haag
Den Haag’s large international diplomatic and NGO community makes it one of the most cosmopolitan World Cup viewing cities in the Netherlands. The Plein, the Grote Markt area, and the Denneweg all have good options. Den Haag also has a significant Surinamese and Indonesian community that brings exceptional atmosphere when those regions’ teams are playing.
De Kwast
Plein 7, 2511 CR Den Haag
A classic Den Haag sports cafe on the Plein, one of the city’s main social squares. Multiple screens, a broad beer selection, and a location that makes it easy to move to other options if needed. The Plein terrace is excellent for the June evening matches.
The Fiddler Irish Pub
Riviervismarkt 9, 2513 AM Den Haag
Den Haag’s best-known expat sports pub, reliably showing every World Cup match with a diverse international crowd that reflects the city’s diplomatic community. Particularly good for non-Dutch matches that other venues may not screen. Multiple screens and late opening hours make it the sensible choice for the 01:00 Tunisia match.
De Paap
Papestraat 32, 2513 AV Den Haag
A well-regarded Den Haag brown cafe that screens major matches in a warm neighbourhood setting. More local and less touristy than the Plein options, and with a strong following among Den Haag residents who want to watch football in a genuine Dutch cafe environment.
Utrecht
Utrecht’s Oudegracht wharf cellar bars create some of the finest World Cup viewing settings in the Netherlands. Watching a match from a candlelit wharf cellar two metres below canal level while the sound carries across the water is a genuinely unique experience. The Oudegracht strip and the Neude square are the main hubs.
Kafe Belgie
Oudegracht 196, 3511 NJ Utrecht
One of Utrecht’s most beloved bars with 200 beers and screens for major matches. The Oudegracht setting adds atmosphere that no purpose-built sports bar can replicate. The Oranje match nights draw an engaged crowd of Utrecht regulars who take the result seriously. See the full Utrecht bars guide.
Stadskasteel Oudaen
Oudegracht 99, 3511 AE Utrecht
The historic castle brewery on the Oudegracht. The ground-floor grand cafe screens major matches, with Oudaen’s own-brewed beers the natural accompaniment. The castle setting and canal views make the Sweden match on 20 June at 19:00 a genuinely special evening. See the full Utrecht bars guide.
Belgisch Biercafe Olivier
Achter Clarenburg 6a, 3511 JK Utrecht
The spectacular former church-turned-bar is one of the most atmospheric settings for a major match in the Netherlands. High vaulted ceilings, Belgian beers, and a crowd that fills the space completely for Oranje games. The acoustics of a 19th-century church make the goal celebrations extraordinary.
Leiden
Leiden’s large student and expat population brings genuine energy to World Cup evenings. The Nieuwe Rijn canal-side bars and the city centre options are the best bets. Lemmy’s bar and Cafe ‘t Praethuys are both good for football viewing with a local crowd.
Cafe de Bonte Koe
Hooglandsekerkkoorsteeg 13, 2312 HS Leiden
Named Nr. 2 in the Netherlands Cafe Top 100. This Leiden institution screens major matches to a genuinely devoted local crowd. The atmosphere on Oranje match days is among the best in South Holland. Arrive well ahead of kickoff. See the full Leiden bars guide.
Proeflokaal 1574
Apothekersdijk 38, 2312 DD Leiden
Named after the year of the Relief of Leiden, this canal-side bar screens major matches with a student and local crowd that makes Oranje evenings animated and loud in the best possible way. The terrace on the Apothekersdijk is one of the finest outdoor spots in Leiden for a summer match.
Delft
Delft is compact and the Markt-area terraces are excellent for summer football viewing. The city has a large TU Delft student and international community that fills the bars on major match nights.
Cafe Vlaanderen
Beestenmarkt 16a, 2611 GE Delft
A good Delft cafe on the Beestenmarkt with screens for major matches and a mixed student and local crowd. The Beestenmarkt square is one of the most pleasant outdoor viewing areas in Delft on warm June evenings.
Locus Publicus
Brabantse Turfmarkt 67, 2611 CG Delft
One of the best Belgian beer bars in Delft with an extensive bottle list and screens for major matches. A relaxed setting that draws a knowledgeable crowd who appreciate both good football and good beer. See the Delft bars guide.
Haarlem
Haarlem’s Grote Markt is one of the finest outdoor settings for a World Cup evening in the Netherlands. The terraces that normally face the Grote Kerk become a collective viewing experience when screens are set up. The Jopenkerk brewery and the Zijlstraat bars are the most reliable indoor options.
Jopenkerk
Gedempte Voldersgracht 2, 2011 WD Haarlem
The brewery-in-a-church is one of the most atmospheric football viewing settings in the country. Jopen sets up screens for all major tournament matches in the grand cafe and the combination of home-brewed beer, Gothic arches, and copper fermentation tanks makes a match night here genuinely memorable. See the Haarlem bars guide.
Bar Wigbolt
Smedestraat 41, 2011 RE Haarlem
Haarlem’s best cocktail bar also screens major matches, making it the most sophisticated option for World Cup viewing in the city. The Haarlemse Mule during the Japan match opener would be a very fine Sunday evening. See the Haarlem bars guide.
The Wolfhound
Haarlem Centrum
Haarlem’s main expat sports bar screens all World Cup matches including non-Oranje games. The place to go for early or late matches that other Haarlem venues may not show. Reliable, welcoming, and the practical default for the 01:00 Tunisia match for anyone who wants to see it out in company. See the Haarlem bars guide.
Official Fan Zones and Public Screenings
The KNVB and major Dutch cities typically set up official fan zones for major tournament matches. In 2026, large public screenings are expected across the country for Oranje matches. Locations and details are announced closer to the tournament by each municipality. Check the following for updates:
Museumplein Fan Zone, Amsterdam
Museumplein, Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s Museumplein has hosted the largest Dutch World Cup fan zone in previous tournaments, with a capacity of tens of thousands and enormous screens. The 2026 official fan zone announcement from the City of Amsterdam is expected in June. Check amsterdam.nl for confirmed details.
Stadhuisplein, Rotterdam
Stadhuisplein, Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s central square regularly hosts official public screenings for major football events. The city’s football culture makes this one of the most atmospherically charged public viewing locations in the country. Check rotterdam.nl for the 2026 programme.
Grote Markt, Haarlem
Grote Markt, Haarlem
The Grote Markt has hosted public screenings for previous major tournaments and is one of the finest public squares in the Netherlands for an outdoor match evening. The combination of the Grote Kerk backdrop and the surrounding cafe terraces creates an extraordinary atmosphere. Check haarlem.nl for 2026 confirmed events.
Practical tips for World Cup 2026 watching
- The Sweden match on Saturday 20 June at 19:00 is the best-timed game of the group stage for bar watching – a prime-time summer Saturday evening. Arrive at least 45 minutes early at any popular venue.
- The Tunisia match on 26 June at 01:00 is the late-night challenge. Irish and expat pubs are your best bet as many Dutch brown cafes close at midnight. Check closing times before committing.
- Stream free anywhere in the Netherlands via NPO Start or the NOS app. No account or payment required inside Dutch borders.
- For non-Oranje matches – Germany, France, Spain, Argentina, England – Irish and expat pubs are generally more reliable than Dutch sports cafes, which often only screen Oranje games.
- Wearing orange on match days guarantees a warm welcome in almost any Dutch bar, whatever your nationality.
- Most bar kitchens close at 22:00. For the Japan match at 22:00, eat before you go or choose a venue that serves until at least 23:00.
- Public transport on major Oranje match evenings can be disrupted or very busy immediately after the final whistle. Build in extra time for your journey home after the 22:00 Japan match.
- The full World Cup schedule and all streaming details are available at NOS.nl in Dutch and at FIFA.com in English.
About Team Oranje at the 2026 World Cup
The Netherlands enters the 2026 World Cup in Group F alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia under coach Ronald Koeman, undefeated in their last 14 matches heading into the tournament. The Oranje have reached three World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010) without winning the trophy – a fact that gives every Netherlands campaign an extra layer of national significance. The squad includes Virgil van Dijk, Xavi Simons, Tijjani Reijnders, and Cody Gakpo among its key players.
The group stage schedule gives Dutch fans one prime-time Saturday evening match (Sweden, 19:00), one late Sunday match (Japan, 22:00), and one post-midnight endurance test (Tunisia, 01:00). The first two are very manageable by Netherlands standards. The Tunisia game will separate those who are truly committed from those who have an early alarm set.
Follow the tournament coverage and Oranje news at NOS Sport and VI.nl (Voetbal International), the Dutch football bible.
