Poland Faces Netherlands in Crucial World Cup Qualifier Showdown

WARSAW, Poland — Poland must defeat the Netherlands at home on Friday to maintain its chances for an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.

The match, taking place at the Stadion Narodowy, pits the second-placed Eagles against the leading Oranje in UEFA qualifying Group G. Poland trails the Netherlands by three points, making a home win essential for a realistic shot at first place and direct entry to the tournament.

For the Netherlands, a draw will be enough to secure top spot, considering the significant difference in goal difference currently favoring them. Poland is also under pressure from third-place Finland, which is only three points behind.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has almost a full squad available, facing only the absence of Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong. In contrast, Poland will miss key players Jan Bednarek, Krzysztof Piatek, and Lukasz Skorupski due to injuries.

The two teams last met in September, finishing with a 1-1 draw, a result that did not reflect the Dutch dominance during the match. Poland only stepped up its performance after falling behind, showing resilience late in the game.

Poland has won all three of its matches since coaching change from Michal Probierz to Jan Urban. However, injuries have created a crisis in goalkeeping, with Wojciech Szczesny and Skorupski absent, leaving Urban with little experience in net.

As both teams gear up for the critical match, Urban’s side aims to overcome the odds. Poland needs to win and hope for favorable results in subsequent matches to avoid the play-offs. The energetic atmosphere in Warsaw will provide a fitting backdrop as Poland aims to pull off a surprising victory.

Kick-off for the Poland vs. Netherlands game is set for 7:45 p.m. GMT on November 14, 2025. Viewers can catch the live stream on various platforms.