Planning to attend Fortuna Sittard vs AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie? The football match takes place on 22 August 2026 at Fortuna Sittard Stadion in Sittard. Prepare your trip, check practical stadium information and plan your ticket purchase for this fixture
Fortuna Sittard vs AZ Alkmaar: an early test of ambitions in Sittard
Fortuna Sittard and AZ Alkmaar enter the third round of the Eredivisie without a league defeat. The match will be played on 22 August 2026 at 16:30 at Fortuna Sittard Stadion. After Saturday's second-round matches, AZ are first with six points and a goal difference of 6:1, while Fortuna are second with four points and a goal difference of 5:3. The standings are still provisional because the second round has not yet been fully completed.
AZ opened the season with victories of 2:0 against ADO Den Haag and 4:1 away at FC Utrecht. Fortuna earned a point away at PSV with a 2:2 result and then defeated SC Cambuur 3:1 at home. The hosts therefore want to confirm their strong start, while AZ defend their perfect record.
Ticket sales for this match are underway, and a meeting between two unbeaten teams at the start of the championship has all the ingredients for a very lively atmosphere in the stands.
Fortuna have shown two different ways of winning points in two rounds
Danny Buijs's team opened the season with a 2:2 draw away at PSV. Fortuna closed down space well, and Ole Romeny put them ahead after a mistake by the home defence. After PSV turned the match around, Edouard Michut made it 2:2 in stoppage time with a powerful strike.
Against SC Cambuur, Philip Brittijn scored in the 6th minute, Lequincio Zeefuik in the 15th for 2:0, and Shiloh 't Zand late on for 3:1. Cambuur had more possession, but Mattijs Branderhorst made six saves and kept the hosts in front.
Buijs started against Cambuur in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Zeefuik was the most advanced player, with Romeny and Mohamed Ihattaren operating behind him. Yassin Oukili and Brittijn held the centre, while Siebe Wylin and Jasper Dahlhaus had responsibilities on the flanks. That formation allows Fortuna to drop into a more compact block without the ball and, after winning possession, quickly look for attackers who can exploit space.
- PSV - Fortuna Sittard 2:2: goalscorers for Fortuna Romeny and Michut.
- Fortuna Sittard - SC Cambuur 3:1: goalscorers Brittijn, Zeefuik and Shiloh 't Zand.
- Fortuna have four points and five goals scored after two rounds.
- Against Cambuur, Branderhorst made six saves.
Brittijn is a particularly interesting profile for a match like this. He has already scored against Cambuur, and he was also on the scoresheet in last season's 4:3 home victory over AZ. His late runs from midfield could be an important detail against AZ's midfield, especially if the visitors push their full-backs high.
AZ arrive with a record that is difficult to better
After two rounds, AZ are the only team with two victories from two league matches played. It remained 0:0 for a long time against ADO Den Haag, but Ro-Zangelo Daal and Calvin Stengs delivered a 2:0 victory in the second half. In Utrecht, Leeroy Echteld's team were even more convincing.
Peer Koopmeiners opened the scoring directly from a corner in first-half stoppage time. Immediately after the break, Weslley Patati and Mexx Meerdink scored to make it 0:3, and after Artem Stepanov's goal for Utrecht, substitute Ayoub Oufkir made the final score 1:4. AZ had nine shots on target and nine corners in that match, while the final goal also demonstrated the depth of the bench.
Echteld used a 4-2-3-1 in Utrecht. Peer Koopmeiners and Dave Kwakman held the midfield, while Weslley Patati, Kees Smit and Ro-Zangelo Daal operated behind Meerdink. Such a formation gives AZ players between the lines and width through the wingers.
Koopmeiners is particularly important as an organiser and set-piece taker. He scored in Utrecht, Patati constantly attacked down the right side, and Meerdink was dangerous again in the final third.
Where the match could be decided
The most interesting tactical clash could be on the flanks. Fortuna's 3-4-2-1 demands a lot from Wylin and Dahlhaus because they must close down width without the ball while also offering an outlet in transition. In a 4-2-3-1, AZ can create a numerical advantage in those areas by combining a winger, full-back and one midfielder.
If Fortuna manage to draw AZ high and then find Romeny, Ihattaren or Zeefuik behind the first line of pressure, the hosts can reach the kind of space that suited them in Eindhoven. Romeny showed in the first two rounds that he can be useful both as a finisher and as a link between midfield and attack. Against Cambuur, Ihattaren was positioned as one of the two players behind the striker, from where he can receive the ball between the opposition lines.
AZ, on the other hand, arrive with great confidence in the finishing phase of their attacks. Against Utrecht, they did not need a long period of dominance to turn the match from 0:0 into 0:3. That is a warning to Fortuna that a few lost duels or poorly defended second balls can change the score very quickly.
Set pieces also deserve attention. Koopmeiners scored directly from a corner in Utrecht, while Fortuna created danger early against Cambuur following crosses. In a match in which both teams may neutralise each other in midfield for long periods, one corner or free kick could open up a completely different scenario.
Absences and squad depth
Fortuna's situation has improved compared with the final stage of pre-season. Michut missed part of the preparation period but returned and has already scored an important goal against PSV. According to Transfermarkt's current injury list, Kristoffer Peterson, Iván Márquez and Sven Simons are out of the squad. Márquez and Simons were not on the team sheet against Cambuur either, while the rest of the main rotation used by Buijs in the first two rounds generally appeared on the pitch or bench.
At the beginning of August, AZ had several players unavailable. Jordy Clasie and Denso Kasius were not in the squad for the league opener, while Jizz Hornkamp was working his way back towards full fitness. Kees Smit has since fully recovered and started in Utrecht. For the match in Sittard, the status of Clasie, Kasius and Hornkamp should be monitored during the week, as their return would further increase Echteld's options.
Both teams have already received goals from the bench: Michut earned Fortuna a point away at PSV, Shiloh 't Zand sealed the victory against Cambuur, and Oufkir scored after coming on for AZ in Utrecht.
Head-to-head meetings: AZ have the better overall run, but Sittard has not been easy
The longer-term head-to-head statistics favour AZ, but the last few seasons have also brought important Fortuna victories. The 4:3 match in Sittard in December 2025 is particularly memorable, when the hosts won a game with many twists and turns. AZ responded in April 2026 with a 2:0 victory in Alkmaar.
The last five league head-to-head meetings:
- AZ - Fortuna Sittard 2:0, April 2026.
- Fortuna Sittard - AZ 4:3, December 2025.
- AZ - Fortuna Sittard 1:0, February 2025.
- Fortuna Sittard - AZ 1:0, October 2024.
- Fortuna Sittard - AZ 1:2, February 2024.
AZ have won more often, but Fortuna have won two of their last three home league matches against this opponent. For that reason, league-leading AZ do not face a straightforward away trip.
Fortuna Sittard Stadion and the atmosphere
Fortuna Sittard Stadion is located at Milaanstraat 120, 6135 LH Sittard. The club has played its home matches there since November 1999, and the stadium holds just over 12,000 spectators. The compact stands and proximity to the pitch give matches a sense of immediacy, especially when the home team take an early lead as they did against Cambuur.
The point away at PSV and the home victory over Cambuur have raised expectations in Sittard, while AZ arrive as leaders after two wins. That is enough to create a very lively atmosphere.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, so it is worth planning the trip and securing a place in good time.
Arrival by public transport and car
The stadium is well connected to the main road routes N276, N294 and A2. The club warns that congestion develops in the immediate surroundings on matchdays. Buses run from Sittard railway station towards the stadium, and the nearest stops are Parijsboulevard/Stadion and Sportzone, from which the entrances are a few minutes' walk away.
For drivers, it is important to note that a parking ban outside designated areas applies at Bedrijvenstad Sittard. Fortuna publishes the status of individual parking areas for every home match, so availability should not be assumed in advance. For the match against Cambuur, the garage next to the stadium and outdoor parking areas were also used, but for AZ the information published specifically for that day should be checked.
- Stadium address: Milaanstraat 120, 6135 LH Sittard.
- Public transport: from the direction of Sittard station, take a bus towards the Parijsboulevard/Stadion or Sportzone stops.
- Car: access is possible via the N276, N294 and A2 roads, with congestion expected around the stadium.
- Parking: use only designated parking areas; a parking ban applies at Bedrijvenstad Sittard.
- The exact opening time of the gates for the match against AZ had not yet been published in the information available on 16 August; against Cambuur, the gates opened two hours before kick-off.
Special rules for visiting AZ supporters
Special travel rules apply to the away section. AZ have announced that a maximum of 800 places are available for their supporters for this match and that prior registration for away matches is required. Travel is organised through a bus or car arrangement with a prescribed route. Supporters arriving by car are scheduled to exchange travel vouchers at the P3 car park from 16:00, with identification required.
AZ also state that visiting supporters using this arrangement are not allowed to go into the centre of Sittard or arrive by another form of transport outside the prescribed scheme. This is important to check before departure, especially for visitors making their first away trip to Sittard.
Sittard as a matchday destination
Sittard is a city in the far south of the Netherlands, close to the borders with Germany and Belgium. The centre is compact, and the main railway station is connected to urban and regional transport. Neutral visitors and home supporters should allow sufficient time for heavier traffic before the match. Visiting AZ supporters must comply with the special travel scheme and should not plan a visit to the city centre.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and checking the club's latest information about entrances, parking areas and arrival arrangements once again before departure, as operational details for an individual match may change.
Players worth watching
For Fortuna, Branderhorst has already played an important role in the first two rounds, particularly with six saves against Cambuur. Brittijn offers penetration from midfield, Zeefuik physical presence in the final third, Romeny has already scored against PSV, and Ihattaren can create space between the lines.
For AZ, Koopmeiners should be watched as an organiser and set-piece taker, Patati as a direct threat from the right side and Meerdink as the finishing point of attacks. Kees Smit links midfield and attack, while Stengs and Oufkir provide Echteld with quality options from the bench.
Fortuna will try to slow AZ's first phase of build-up and force the visitors into longer balls. AZ will look for control through Koopmeiners and Kwakman and width through Patati and Daal. That makes the match a good early test of how sustainable the strong start made by both teams really is.
Sources:
- ESPN - current Eredivisie table after Saturday's matches, results, line-ups and statistics from Fortuna Sittard - SC Cambuur and FC Utrecht - AZ.
- Fortuna Sittard - reports from the matches against PSV and SC Cambuur, information about coach Danny Buijs, and general information about Fortuna Sittard Stadion and travel to the venue.
- AZ - report from the away match at FC Utrecht, information about coach Leeroy Echteld, the status of part of the squad, and information for visiting supporters travelling to Sittard.
- Football Web Pages - results of the most recent league head-to-head meetings between Fortuna and AZ.
- Transfermarkt - current standings and Fortuna's list of injured players.