The Netherlands defeated Uzbekistan 2:1 in New York in the final test before the World Cup
The Netherlands national football team defeated Uzbekistan 2:1 in a preparatory match played on Monday, June 8, 2026, at Icahn Stadium in New York. According to the official match record of the Dutch federation KNVB, both goals for the Netherlands were scored by Cody Gakpo from penalty kicks, in the 32nd minute and in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Uzbekistan reached an equalizer in the 90+2nd minute through Igor Sergeyev, but the closing phase nevertheless belonged to Ronald Koeman's team. The match had the status of a closed preparatory game, and for both national teams it was part of the final preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Although the result confirmed the expected victory of the favored Netherlands, the course of the match was far more uncertain than could have been assumed before kick-off. The Netherlands had control and the lead for a long time, but failed to settle the question of the winner earlier, primarily because of missed chances and a lack of precision in the final phase. The red card for Guus Til in the 87th minute further complicated the contest and opened space for Uzbekistan to equalize in stoppage time. Only a late penalty kick, again converted by Gakpo, prevented Oranje's final test before heading into the competitive part of the tournament from ending in a draw.
Gakpo twice reliable from the spot
According to the official KNVB report, the Netherlands lined up in New York in a 4-3-3 system, with Bart Verbruggen in goal, captain Virgil van Dijk in defense and a midfield consisting of Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders and Frenkie de Jong. Crysencio Summerville, Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo started in attack. Uzbekistan, according to the same record, played with Utkir Yusupov in goal, Abdukodir Khusanov in the back line and captain Eldor Shomurodov at the top of the attack. Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro set up the team in a compact structure, with emphasis on protecting the space in front of its own penalty area.
The first goal came in the 32nd minute, after the Netherlands made use of one of its moves down the right side. KNVB states that Gakpo converted a penalty kick for 1:0, thereby also marking a personal milestone because he recorded his 50th appearance for the national team against Uzbekistan. In the match preview, the Dutch federation stated that Gakpo had 19 goals for the national side before that game, so the first penalty brought him his twentieth international goal. Despite the lead, the Netherlands did not turn its territorial initiative into a more convincing advantage, which left Uzbekistan in the match all the way until the closing stage.
The second half brought a similar pattern. The Netherlands created situations from which it could have increased the lead, but several good attacks ended with inaccurate shots or poor final passes. According to the KNVB report, Van Dijk headed wide after a set piece, while Summerville had one of the better chances for his first international goal. After the match, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman stressed that he was concerned by the fact that goals in the two final preparatory matches came from penalties, but added that the team was still creating enough chances. That assessment describes the match in New York well: the Netherlands had more attacking substance, but did not leave the impression of a team that had fully solved its problems in finishing.
Red card and equalizer in stoppage time
The biggest twist of the match occurred in the closing stage, when Guus Til, who had earlier come on instead of Frenkie de Jong, was sent off after a VAR intervention. According to KNVB's report, Til handled the ball while trying to stop a deep Uzbekistan pass, and after a review of the footage he was shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The Dutch federation stated that at the time of reporting it was not clear what consequences this could have for the Netherlands' first match at the World Cup. That gave the friendly encounter, although secondary in terms of result compared with the preparatory goal, additional competitive tension.
Uzbekistan made use of the numerical advantage very quickly. In the 90+2nd minute, Igor Sergeyev, who had come off the bench instead of captain Shomurodov, scored for 1:1 and briefly rewarded the disciplined performance of the Asian national team. According to the official record, Sergeyev was the only scorer for Uzbekistan, while Dostonbek Khamdamov and Jamshid Iskanderov also came into the game in the second half. The equalizer was particularly important for Fabio Cannavaro's team because Uzbekistan is preparing for its first appearance on the world stage. Although the result did not remain level, the finish showed that the national team from Central Asia can punish a drop in concentration and remain competitive against a high-quality European opponent.
The Netherlands nevertheless avoided a draw. In the 90+8th minute, Gakpo again received a chance from the spot and scored for the final 2:1. KNVB described the victory as difficult and earned after an unusual finish, while the focus remained on the fact that the Netherlands again had to seek a solution from penalty kicks. For Koeman, this is a sign that the final phase of attack requires additional attention in the days before the opening of the tournament. For Gakpo, on the other hand, the match brought a double confirmation of his importance in the national-team attack, although both goals came from set pieces and not from open play.
Verbruggen's injury and Timber's absence increased caution
Besides the result, the Netherlands was also concerned about the state of the squad ahead of the World Cup. Bart Verbruggen had to leave the game in the 67th minute, when he was replaced by Mark Flekken. According to the KNVB report, Verbruggen was injured after a collision with Abdukodir Khusanov and an awkward landing, because of which he could not continue the match. NL Times also reported that it was a blow after which the goalkeeper held his hip. At the time of the published reports there was no official confirmation of the severity of the injury, so further information from the Dutch camp will be important for assessing his availability in the group.
The Netherlands arrived in New York already burdened by one serious absence. KNVB announced that Jurriën Timber will not be able to play at the World Cup because of a groin problem, and Koeman called up Lutsharel Geertruida as his replacement. The official report of the Dutch federation states that the medical staff in New York concluded that Timber had not recovered enough for the demands of the tournament. That absence is especially important because Timber had been considered one of the candidates for a significant role in the defensive rotation. Captain Van Dijk, according to KNVB's announcement, emphasized after the match that it was a major blow for the player and the team, but also that the national team must continue preparations with the available squad.
Because of all this, the victory against Uzbekistan has two faces. On the one hand, the Netherlands achieved a result that can bring it a calmer entry into the final days of preparation, especially after the previous defeat to Algeria. On the other hand, the way the match ended raises questions about finishing, discipline and the health status of important players. Koeman's statement that it is positive that the team is creating chances points to an intention to keep the emphasis on the process, and not only on the shortcomings. Still, in the short period before the first match at the World Cup, the room for corrections is limited.
Uzbekistan as a serious test before the tournament
In this encounter, Uzbekistan had the role of an opponent that was supposed to simulate a different style from the European national teams the Netherlands most often faces. In the preview of the duel, KNVB stated that the Netherlands opted for a test against Uzbekistan also because it plays against Japan, another Asian national team, in the opening match of the World Cup. Such a choice of opponent was not merely a formality, but part of the tactical preparation for a team that can expect disciplined blocks, quick transition and solid defensive organization in the group. Uzbekistan, despite the defeat, showed precisely those elements, especially in the closing stage when it made use of the numerical advantage.
According to FIFA's national-team profile, Uzbekistan will play at the World Cup for the first time in 2026. That historic qualification changed the international status of a team that had long been competitive in Asian qualifiers, but without the final breakthrough onto the biggest stage. KNVB states that Uzbekistan reached qualification through the Asian qualifying zone, in a competition in which it left behind national teams such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Coach Cannavaro, a former Italian international and winner of the 2006 Ballon d'Or, took over the team in a period in which an organized and competitively mature performance is expected from it. In New York, his national team, although defeated, gained a useful picture of how concentrated it must be against opponents from the very top of international football.
In Uzbekistan's ranks, captain Eldor Shomurodov and defender Abdukodir Khusanov stand out in particular, which KNVB also highlighted in its previews. Shomurodov was an important attacking pillar in the qualifying cycle, while Khusanov is recognized as one of the most prominent defensive assets. Against the Netherlands, Uzbekistan was forced to defend for most of the match, but it did not give up trying to press the opponent in the closing stage through substitutions and fresh players. Sergeyev's stoppage-time goal was the result of such an approach and confirmation that the team has depth on the bench. In the context of the World Cup, that is a more important conclusion for Cannavaro than the defeat itself.
Broader context: the final rehearsal before the biggest edition of the World Cup
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first with 48 national teams, and official KNVB information states that the teams will be divided into twelve groups. According to the same source, the two best national teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will advance, making the tournament bigger and longer than previous editions. The Netherlands is placed in Group F with Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. It plays its first match against Japan on June 14 in Dallas, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia. Because of that schedule, the meeting with Uzbekistan was the final opportunity for a test before matches in which every detail can affect the standings in the group.
Uzbekistan will, according to FIFA's information about Group K, play against Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo. That is a demanding group for a debutant, especially because it includes national teams with different playing styles and great individual experience. The match against the Netherlands therefore had the value of a test against a team that aims for high possession, aggressive full-back involvement in attack and constant pressure through the wide players. Although Uzbekistan lost, it stayed in the match until the final minutes, which the staff will be able to use as encouragement in preparation for the tournament. At the same time, the defeat shows how costly late fouls and drops in concentration can be against national teams that have takers such as Gakpo.
Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island was an unusual stage for a match between two national teams that will enter the biggest football tournament in a few days. KNVB stated that the public was not allowed because of numerous activities in New York, so the atmosphere was different from the one awaiting the Netherlands in Dallas. The Dutch federation also pointed out that the first match against Japan will be played at AT&T Stadium, in front of a significantly larger number of spectators. That difference in environment further emphasizes the transition from preparatory to competitive mode. For national teams that want to avoid a slow start to the tournament, final tests serve less for impression and more for confirming automatisms, physical condition and squad depth.
What the victory means for Koeman's team
For the Netherlands, the most important thing is that the preparatory cycle ended with a victory, but the performance against Uzbekistan did not offer only positive answers. The team showed that it can create chances against a low block, that Gakpo remains a reliable taker in key moments and that full-back combinations, especially through Dumfries, can create an advantage in the final third. At the same time, misses from open play, the red card and the goalkeeper's injury were reminders of the risks that in tournament football can change the direction of an entire campaign. Koeman therefore has a victory ahead of Japan, but also enough material for analysis.
Uzbekistan leaves New York with a defeat, but also with confirmation that it can remain close in terms of result against a favored opponent. Cannavaro's team withstood a long period of Dutch pressure, made use of the numerical advantage and scored in stoppage time. The final result of 2:1 does not change the fact that the Netherlands was better and more dangerous, but neither does it erase the impression that Uzbekistan offered competitively serious resistance. Precisely because of that, this match has value for both sides: for the Netherlands as a warning in victory, for Uzbekistan as confirmation that even against stronger opponents it can stay in the game until the very end.
Sources:
- OnsOranje / KNVB – official match record Netherlands - Uzbekistan, scorers, substitutions, line-ups and venue (link)
- OnsOranje / KNVB Media – match report, preparation context, injuries, red card and description of the finish (link)
- OnsOranje / KNVB Media – statements by Ronald Koeman and reactions after the match (link)
- OnsOranje / KNVB – official information about the Netherlands' schedule and the format of the World Cup 2026 (link)
- FIFA – overview of Group F of the World Cup 2026 and the Netherlands' opponents (link)
- FIFA – overview of Group K of the World Cup 2026 and Uzbekistan's opponents (link)
- FIFA – profile of the Uzbekistan national team ahead of its first appearance at the World Cup (link)
- NL Times – supplementary report about the match and Verbruggen's withdrawal from the game (link)