June 29, 2026, 5:59 p.m. ET
MONTERREY, Mexico — Premier League champion, Champions League winner, FA Cup holder and Club World Cup victor: these are all honors that Virgil Van Dijk has held during his time with Liverpool at the club level.
The one prize that has eluded the 34-year-old central defender is at the international level, where Van Dijk and the entire Dutch squad continue their quest for a World Cup title.
Four years ago, the Netherlands pushed Argentina to the edge in a World Cup quarterfinal. Wout Weghorst’s late equalizer pushed the game into extra time, and then came penalties.
Van Dijk walked up first for the Dutch and saw his effort saved by Emiliano Martínez. Argentina won the shootout 4-3, eliminated the Netherlands and went on to lift the trophy in Qatar.
Now, Van Dijk is back in the knockout stage, likely for the final time at the World Cup. At 34, the Dutch captain has hinted at the possibility of this being his final time representing The Oranje at the World Cup.
“I’m proud to be the captain of Oranje and to lead you every time,” said Van Dijk. “I’m already excited for the final tournament and to achieve success together.”
On Monday, June 29, Van Dijk and his Dutch teammates face the possibility of elimination in Monterrey.
The Netherlands, winner of Group F, faces Morocco in the round of 32 at Estadio Monterrey. The match brings together two teams in the top 10 of the FIFA rankings, and one will be eliminated far too early for their expectations.
For Van Dijk, the pressure is multiplied. He is captaining a nation still chasing its first World Cup title and its first major international trophy. As a center back focused on the backline, he has tried to remain focused on the match rather than on his emotions.
“It is a knockout match,” said Van Dijk. “Do or die, and we’re going to give it everything.”
He praised Morocco’s quality, pointing to its individual talent, experience and attacking threat. The Atlas Lions fell in the semifinals in 2022 to France, becoming the first African team to reach that stage in World Cup history.
“They have one of the best right-backs in the world,” said Van Dijk. “Ismael Saibari is in great form after a fantastic season. They have experienced players, a good manager, Brahim Díaz, and great players.
As the leader of the Dutch back line, Van Dijk said the team starts with him, even if defending is a collective effort.
“I’m not the only defender, but I do feel responsible,” said the 34-year-old. “I’m one of the leaders in that area. We don’t defend individually, we defend as a team. We have to stay compact.”
Van Dijk also acknowledged that knockout matches can once again come down to penalties, a scenario he glanced back on from Qatar.
“You can’t train for everything,” he said. “When you’re taking a penalty, there’s always a margin for error. Against Argentina, everyone in the stadium is cheering or booing—you can’t recreate that in training.”
The memory of the miss remains in his head, but redemption and moving forward are at the forefront. In what could be his final World Cup, his focus remains steadfast on the task ahead, a pivotal tie against the fourth-place finishers in 2022.
Brooks Thomason is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
