Former PSV player and Oranje player has confidence: “We do have quality.”

Despite a poor overall showing by the Netherlands national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America, former PSV defender and former Oranje player Jaap Stam believes the Netherlands national team could possibly surprise. However, the 67-time international thinks that the Netherlands is not a favorite to become world champion.

Stam himself played in four final tournaments with the Netherlands national team in the period from 1996 to 2004. The former defender also experienced the 1998 World Cup in France, where Oranje lost to Brazil in the semi-finals on penalties.

For the 2002 World Cup, Stam and the Netherlands national team failed to qualify. For the upcoming World Cup, the former PSV player is of the opinion that head coach Ronald Koeman has enough qualities especially in defense.

''We are well represented. Years ago, it was still sometimes different. There are now more options in terms of diversity, experience and quality. It depends on how Koeman wants to play, with four or five defenders. But it can be both, and that is very positive. People call the defense the foundation for success: that you can build from the back, but also give away little'', Stam says in conversation with sports broadcaster ESPN.

In the group stage, the Netherlands plays against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. ''I think the Netherlands are the underdog. I think we can go pretty far. I'm not saying right away that we're going to win, but we do have quality'', believes the former PSV player.

Stam thinks that the Netherlands could just make it through to the final four of the tournament. ''I think that if they can focus properly and are willing to fight for each other, the quarterfinals or semifinals could be possible. Defending is also something that the entire squad must do. They need to be well attuned to one another. The setup has to be good, because due to the heat you can't just keep attacking. Those conditions aren't easy,'' said the former PSV defender.