Netherlands · World Cup 2026 squad · Group FVirgil van Dijk
LiverpoolAbout VIRGIL VAN DIJK
World Cup 2026 pedigree
Virgil van Dijk captained Netherlands at WC2022 — they reached the quarter-final and lost to eventual champions Argentina in a chaotic 2-2 thriller decided on penalties. He is one of two world-class defenders to have captained at multiple major tournaments without winning one.
Role for Netherlands
Liverpool's captain and Netherlands' defensive anchor, Van Dijk is the most-tested ball-playing centre-back in the modern game. He covers space behind the high line, wins aerial duels, and plays line-breaking passes from deep.
World Cup 2026 outlook
Limited individual-scoring markets as a defender, but his presence is a strong predictor of Netherlands' tournament length. At 34 his pace is slightly diminished but his positioning compensates. Watch defender-anytime-scorer markets at set-piece moments.
Best World Cup 2026 odds for Netherlands
Tournament starts 11 June 2026
Virgil van Dijk's World Cup 2026 stats will appear after the tournament opens with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Banorte.
Stats update after each match Dijk features in.
QUALIFYING STATS
Performance Metrics