Poland 1-1 Netherlands: The Dutch inch closer to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification after a hard-fought draw

Poland and the Netherlands played to a tense 1-1 draw in their vital FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Warsaw on November 14, 2025. Poland's Jakub Kamiński scored first, but Memphis Depay equalised.

Netherlands and Poland played out a 1-1 draw in Poland. Image | X

Poland and Netherlands played out an intense 1-1 draw in their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier at the National Stadium in Warsaw on November 14, 2025. This result leaves the Netherlands teetering on the brink of qualification, holding a comfortable 3-point lead over Poland in Group G and a goal difference of +19 compared to Poland’s +6.

Poland struck first

The match started at a charged pace, with both sides understanding the high stakes. Poland, needing a win to keep their direct World Cup qualification hopes alive, took the lead in the 43rd minute through Jakub Kamiński.

The goal was a culmination of incisive play from Robert Lewandowski, who delivered a perfectly timed pass to set Kamiński one-on-one against the Dutch goalkeeper, Verbruggen. Calm and composed, Kamiński threaded the ball through the keeper’s legs to give the home side a much-needed advantage going into halftime.

Dutch equalised in the second half

The Netherlands came out strong in the second half, pushing aggressively for an equaliser. Their persistence paid off just two minutes after the restart, as Memphis Depay capitalised on a chance from a Gakpo cross, tapping in the ball after a close-range header from Malen was saved by Poland’s goalkeeper Grabara. The equaliser shifted the momentum and set the stage for an intense finish.

Read Also: Qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026: Full list

Poland kept trying for the winner

Poland threw numbers forward in search of a late winner, but the Netherlands’ defence held firm. Despite multiple attempts from Poland’s Zalewski, Skóraś, and others, the Dutch backline, anchored by van Dijk and van de Ven, successfully contained the attacks.

The midfield battle was fierce, with Frenkie de Jong playing a key role in breaking down Poland’s advances, evidenced by his crucial block to deny Piotr Zieliński a goal-scoring opportunity late in the final minutes.

Substitutions in the closing stages highlighted both coaches’ tactics, with Poland bringing on fresh attacking options Kamil Grosicki and Paweł Wszołek as a last push to break the deadlock. The Dutch countered by introducing young attacker Emanuel Emegha and defensive midfielder Jerdy Schouten to maintain stability.

In the final moments, Poland earned a corner through Kamiński and pushed for one last chance to steal the victory, but the Netherlands kept their shape and ran down the clock. The match ended 1-1 after six minutes of added injury time.

What is needed for Netherlands and Poland to earn the direct qualification?

With this draw, the Netherlands need only one point from their final qualifier to secure direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Poland, on the other hand, faces a daunting task and can only qualify directly if they win their last match and the Netherlands lose theirs, with Poland overcoming a massive goal difference deficit of 13.

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