By Kilty Cleary

Copyright newsweek

The Netherlands can open up a gap at the head of its group in World Cup qualifying with a win over Malta on Thursday.

(LtoR) Netherlands’ Mexx Meerdink, Tijjani Reijnders, and Bart Verbruggen take part in a training session at the KNVB Campus ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Finland in Zeist, on October 6, 2025. (Photo by Koen van Weel / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

How to Watch Malta vs Netherlands

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Time: 2:45 PM EDT

Location: National Stadium, Ta’ Qali, Malta

Channel: fubo Sports Network

Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE)

Malta faces a battle against the odds to end a streak of seven straight defeats to the Netherlands on Thursday when the two teams meet in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. And De Oranje could open up some daylight at the top of UEFA qualifying Group G if they manage to add to their return of three wins from four games.

Ronald Koeman’s men currently sit first in Group G and are level on points with Poland despite having played one game fewer. The three-time World Cup runners-up also have a goal difference that’s far superior to any other team in the pool, meaning automatic qualification should be theirs if current form persists.

It was back in June that the Netherlands marched to an 8-0 hammering of Malta in its first home fixture of the qualifying campaign. And the odds appear heavily stacked against the Reds, who have never managed to score against the Dutch and have lost their previous seven encounters by an aggregate scoreline of 36-0.

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