Netherlands to face Spain in Nations League quarterfinals
The Netherlands will face reigning European champion Spain in the quarterfinals of the Nations League, following Friday's draw in Nyon, Switzerland. The two-leg encounter is scheduled to begin with a home match for the Dutch on March 20, 2025, with the return leg in Spain on March 23.
The winner of the matchup will advance to the Nations League Finals in June, where they will face the victor of the Croatia-France quarterfinal.
Head coach Ronald Koeman acknowledged the difficulty of the draw, calling it a "fantastic challenge." “Spain is the titleholder. They have a great team with a lot of talent and play excellent football. Everyone is looking forward to this matchup,” Koeman said via social media.
Spain, led by head coach Luis de la Fuente, won the most recent Nations League title last year in Rotterdam, defeating Croatia on penalties after a scoreless final. The Spanish side also claimed the European Championship in 2024 and currently holds third place in the FIFA World Rankings.
The Netherlands and Spain share a storied history on the international stage. Their most recent competitive meeting occurred in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, where the Dutch secured a 5-1 victory under then-coach Louis van Gaal. That match was a moment of redemption for the Netherlands, who had lost to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in extra time, with Andrés Iniesta scoring the decisive goal.
The last encounter between the teams was a 1-1 friendly draw in 2020. Sergio Canales scored for Spain, with Donny van de Beek equalizing for the Netherlands.
Overall, the Netherlands holds a slightly favorable record in their 13 meetings with Spain, securing six wins, five losses, and two draws.
The Netherlands qualified for the Nations League quarterfinals as the runner-up in their group, finishing behind Germany. Spain topped its group, which included Denmark, Serbia, and Switzerland.
This marks the first time the Nations League has included a quarterfinal stage. Previously, only group winners advanced directly to the semifinals.
The Netherlands has reached the final stages of the Nations League three times in its four attempts. Their best result came in 2019, when they finished as runners-up to Portugal in the inaugural edition. In the 2023 tournament, held in the Netherlands, the Dutch team finished fourth after losing to Croatia in the semifinals and Italy in the third-place match.
The Nations League quarterfinals, set for March 2025, will feature the Netherlands facing Spain, Croatia taking on France, Italy clashing with Germany, and Denmark competing against Portugal.
Winners will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for June 4-5, 2025. The tournament will conclude with the final on June 8, 2025.
