Reijnders scores the winner as the Netherlands beats Norway 2-1 during the warm-up for the 206 World Cup

The Netherlands fought back to beat Norway 2-1 in the World Cup warm-up match on Friday, with Tijjani Reijnders delivering the winner at the Amsterdam Arena.

Norway held off early Dutch pressure to open the scoring through Andreas Schjelderup in the 24th minute, but home captain Virgil van Dijk leveled ten minutes before half-time.

Reijnders’ winner came in the 51st minute as the Netherlands piled the pressure on a Norwegian team playing without Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard.

The high-intensity friendly match served as preparation for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US in June, where the Netherlands is in Group F with Japan, Tunisia and Poland or Sweden. Norway is drawn in Group I against France, Senegal and Bolivia or Iraq.

Schjelderup’s goal was an excellent individual performance as he cut in from the left flank and teased Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries before sliding in past him and unleashing a shot that gave goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen no chance.

An equalizer always looked likely after that, but Norway will be disappointed when Van Dijk easily climbs above the defense and heads home from a corner for his twelfth international goal.

Donyell Malen narrowly missed the mark minutes after halftime after a quick combination with Cody Gakpo, but it did not take long before the Dutch team took the lead.

Gakpo stole possession in midfield before Dumfries took possession and fed Reijnders, who was right in front of the goal and was able to put the ball into the back of the net.

A large number of changes after the hour took the power out of the clash. Norway brought in five substitutes at once and made a total of twelve substitutions between the two teams.

There was a late chance for Norway when striker Jorgen Strand Larsen’s daring backheel from a strong square pass almost deceived Verbruggen, who struggled to keep him out.

The Dutch, now unbeaten in their last 13 appearances, host Ecuador in Eindhoven on Tuesday, while Switzerland visit Oslo the same evening as the teams continue their World Cup preparations.

Published on March 28, 2026