KNVB worldwide: football as a unifying force

All over the world, football is a unifying force, as it is here in Vanuatu. - Foto: KNVB Media

In the final months of 2025, the KNVB further expanded its international role within global football. Through the implementation of social programmes and strategic alliances with international partners, structural efforts were made to promote knowledge sharing and sustainable development.

WorldCoaches: structural impact through local cooperation

The WorldCoaches programme has been an important pillar of the KNVB's international efforts for many years. In October 2025, these efforts in Jordan received an extra boost with the signing of a cooperation agreement between WorldCoaches and AFDP Global. AFDP Global founder and chairman of the Jordanian Football Association (JFA) Prince Ali bin Al Hussein was present at the signing. Gijs de Jong signed this agreement on behalf of the KNVB, which will further intensify the collaboration and, in addition to training local WorldCoaches, will also see the construction of two community pitches in Jordan.

In the Pacific region, this approach was continued in December with WorldCoaches courses in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, organised in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy in Australia. The presence of Ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken at the opening and closing ceremonies emphasised the diplomatic and social importance of these programmes.

In close collaboration with local football associations, the high number of female participants was particularly noteworthy. Following previous programmes in Fiji (2024) and Papua New Guinea (September 2025), these courses demonstrate how football, local partners and Dutch embassies can contribute to sustainable development in the region.

A special milestone was achieved in Libya, where a WorldCoaches course was organised for the first time in November 2025. Local coaches from the capital Tripoli took part in a training programme led by regional WorldCoaches instructor Aya Anik from Algeria. The course concluded with a youth tournament and certificate ceremony, attended by Dutch Ambassador Arjan Uilenreef. In 2026, the coaches will share their practical experiences in a follow-up course and take new steps together.

The social power of WorldCoaches was also evident in Morocco. During the U17 World Cup, the Dutch U17 women's team took the time before the tournament to hold a WorldCoaches clinic in Rabat. Together with local children, they enjoyed a day full of football and fun, organised entirely by local WorldCoaches. A powerful example of how the Dutch national team and WorldCoaches contribute to inspiration and connection.

Unity EURO Cup: inclusion and interaction take centre stage

In October 2025, the KNVB Campus in Zeist was dominated by the Unity EURO Cup, which officially kicked off with an international forum. This unique UEFA initiative, in collaboration with UNHCR and the KNVB, brings together teams in which Dutch nationals and newcomers with a refugee background participate jointly in a European seven-a-side tournament. During the forum, the contribution of football to integration, mutual respect and social cohesion was emphasised, with contributions from Khalida Popal and EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef, among others.

International Academy: knowledge sharing and development

Sustainable knowledge transfer was central to the International Academy. In Indonesia, the KNVB organised the first International Academy activities in November 2025, together with PSSI, an important milestone in the four-year MoU signed in 2024. KNVB instructors Bert Zuurman and André Simmelink gave a three-day course in Papua, followed by a two-day programme in Jakarta. A total of 36 local coaches took part in the training courses, supported by local partners and sponsors.

In December 2025, the KNVB once again welcomed a delegation of thirteen coaches from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). In collaboration with AZ Alkmaar, they were given a broad overview of Dutch football, ranging from presentations and training observations to youth matches and an Eredivisie match.

International meetings and governance

The KNVB was also actively involved at the administrative level. During the DFB Congress in Frankfurt, where Bernd Neuendorf was re-elected as president and a change took place in the general secretariat, the KNVB was represented by Frank Paauw and Gijs de Jong.

The SportsNL Stakeholder Summit took place around the time of the Netherlands-Lithuania international match, where public and private partners looked ahead to SportsNL 2.0. Gijs de Jong and Michael van der Star participated on behalf of the KNVB. Ambassadors from Canada, Mexico and the United States were also guests at the match.

The KNVB participated in a CEO Round Table in Riyadh as part of a broader economic mission between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. Topics such as energy, sustainability and the 2034 FIFA World Cup were central to the discussions. This visit was combined with talks at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Dutch embassy.

World Cup draw in Washington

National coach Ronald Koeman, director of top-level football Nigel de Jong, KNVB-chairman Frank Paauw and secretary general Gijs de Jong represented the KNVB at the World Cup draw on Friday 5 December in Washington. The Dutch men's national team will face Japan, Tunisia and the winner of European play-off route B in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. That winner will be Poland, Sweden, Ukraine or Albania. The Netherlands has been placed in Group F and will play in the so-called central zone. Japan will be their first opponent in Dallas on Sunday 14 June.

2029 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in the Netherlands

The UEFA European Under-19 Championship will be held in the Netherlands in 2029! The KNVB had applied to host this tournament for the first time. Dutch football fans can look forward to a safe, inclusive and inspiring event for the international development of top talent. ‘We are incredibly proud to have brought this fantastic tournament to the Netherlands,’ says Secretary General Gijs de Jong. ‘In the Under-19 age category, you see Europe's greatest talents taking important steps towards their big breakthrough. The fact that we can make an important contribution to this with this tournament is a wonderful prospect.’

KNVB represented in FIFA Standing Committees

The FIFA Standing Committees play an important role in international football. They advise and support the FIFA Council on a wide range of policy areas, from safety and commerce to the future of the game. These committees provide direction for the development and organisation of global football.

The KNVB is proud that three Dutch administrators actively contribute to decision-making within these important bodies:

• Frank Paauw – Chairman of the Stadium and Security Committee
• Marianne van Leeuwen – Member of the Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee
• Gijs de Jong – Member of the Future of Football Committee

With this representation, the KNVB makes an active and substantive contribution to international football policy. This underlines our ambition to contribute to the further development, safety and future-proofing of football, not only in the Netherlands but also worldwide. Together with its representatives, the KNVB remains fully committed to advancing the game at all levels.

Together, all these initiatives demonstrate how the KNVB is working worldwide on sporting development, social impact and international cooperation – with football as a universal language.