European Qualifiers match between Malta vs Netherlands at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on Thursday evening, in what promises to be another uphill battle for the Mediterranean minnows as they face the group leaders in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign.
The Netherlands come in with confidence, leading Group G with 10 points from four matches. They are tied with Poland but boast a better goal difference, highlighted by their incredible 8-0 thrashing of Malta in the reverse fixture last June.
Ronald Koeman’s side will be without their all-time leading goalscorer Memphis Depay, who was dropped from the starting lineup after losing his passport in Brazil and arriving a day late for international duty.
The Corinthians striker, who recently broke Robin van Persie’s national scoring record with his 52nd international goal, claimed his passport was stolen but was unable to convince border authorities to let him travel without proper documentation.
This opens the door for AZ Alkmaar’s 22-year-old striker Mexx Meerdink, the surprise inclusion in Koeman’s squad, to potentially make his international debut.
Malta manager Emilio De Leo welcomes back key midfielder Teddy Teuma from injury, providing a significant boost to their creative options, while Ryan Camenzuli returns after missing the September matches.
However, the Reds remain without suspended duo Paul Mbong and Zach Muscat for this crucial qualifier, though both will be available for the subsequent friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Malta’s campaign has been tough, managing only two points from five matches with draws against Lithuania. Now, they face the daunting task of trying to avoid another heavy loss against opponents who remain unbeaten in their six previous meetings.
Malta vs Netherlands Match Preview – Team News, Recent Form, H2H & Prediction
This Group G encounter represents Malta’s chance to secure a rare positive result against elite opposition, while the Netherlands aim to strengthen their position at the top of the qualifying table and move closer to automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
- Teams: Malta vs Netherlands
- Date: Thursday, October 10, 2025
- Time: 20:45 CET (19:45 UK time)
- Venue: National Stadium, Ta’ Qali, Malta
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers – UEFA Group G
Recent Form of Malta and Netherlands
Malta have struggled throughout the qualifying campaign, managing just two draws from five matches. Their defensive fragilities were exposed in the 8-0 defeat to Netherlands, though they showed character in drawing with Lithuania twice and securing a morale-boosting 3-1 friendly victory over San Marino.
Netherlands have been dominant despite a slight wobble in September, when they drew 1-1 with Poland before nearly surrendering a two-goal lead against Lithuania in a dramatic 3-2 victory. Memphis Depay’s brace in that match saw him become his country’s record goalscorer, highlighting their attacking prowess.
- Malta: D-L-D-L-D (Recent: Draw vs Lithuania 1-1, Loss vs Poland 0-1, Draw vs Finland 0-0, Loss vs Netherlands 0-8, Draw vs Lithuania 0-0)
- Netherlands: W-D-W-W (Recent: Win vs Lithuania 3-2, Draw vs Poland 1-1, Win vs Malta 8-0, Win vs Finland 2-0)
Current FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group G Standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Netherlands | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 10 |
| 2nd | Poland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 10 |
| 3rd | Finland | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 7 |
| 4th | Lithuania | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 3 |
| 5th | Malta | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 2 |
Malta vs Netherlands Head-to-Head Record
The Netherlands have a perfect record against Malta, winning all six previous encounters while scoring an average of five goals per match. Malta’s heaviest defeat in recent memory came in their last meeting when they were demolished 8-0 in Groningen.
| Statistic | Malta | Netherlands | Last Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Time Record | 0 | 6 | Netherlands 8-0 Malta (June 2025) |
| Goals Conceded | 30+ | 6 | Average: Malta concede 5 per game |
Team News
- Malta: Stade de Reims midfielder Teddy Teuma returns from injury to provide much-needed creativity. Ryan Camenzuli is back after missing September’s matches. However, Paul Mbong (FK Čukarički) and Zach Muscat (Chaves FC) are suspended. Saint-Étienne striker Irvin Cardona and the Mbong brothers will compete for attacking positions.
- Netherlands: Memphis Depay has been dropped from the starting lineup after his passport issues but could still feature. Mexx Meerdink has withdrawn from the squad due to injury. Matthijs de Ligt, Noa Lang, and several other regular faces have been omitted. Donyell Malen may start in attack, with Cody Gakpo providing support. Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, and Tijjani Reijnders are expected to form the midfield trio.
Malta vs Netherlands Possible Starting Lineups
Malta Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Bonello; Shaw, Pepe, J. Borg, Camenzuli; Teuma, Guillaumier; J. Mbong, Satariano, Overend; Cardona.
Netherlands Predicted XI (4-3-3):
Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Simons, Malen, Gakpo.
Key Battles
- Teddy Teuma vs Frenkie de Jong: Creative midfield battle between Malta’s playmaker and the Netherlands’ control specialist
- Irvin Cardona vs Virgil van Dijk: Malta’s leading striker against one of the world’s best center-backs
Tactical Overview
- Malta: Compact defensive shape, quick transitions on the counter, reliance on set-pieces and Teuma’s creativity
- Netherlands: Dominant possession, patient build-up play, exploitation of width through full-backs and wingers
Malta vs Netherlands Prediction
Despite Malta’s return of key players, the quality gap between these sides is substantial. The Netherlands’ depth and experience should secure a comfortable victory, though Malta will hope to avoid the humiliation of their June encounter.
- Predicted Score: Malta 0-4 Netherlands
How to Watch Malta vs Netherlands European Qualifiers?
- Malta: TVM Sport, ONE
- Netherlands: NOS, NPO 1
- International: Check local UEFA broadcast partners
- Streaming: Available on respective national broadcaster platforms