International update: sport, society and cooperation in action

On the day the Netherlands played Lithuania in the World Cup qualifiers (7 September), Dutch soldiers and KNVB WorldCoaches organised a sports day for local children, bringing together football and defence to improve safety, connection. - Foto: KNVB Media

The KNVB has been active on many fronts in recent months. From organising top sporting events in its own country to sharing knowledge in European meeting rooms and training coaches worldwide. All these activities show that football is not just a game, but also connects people, stimulates cooperation and creates social impact. Here, we look back on the KNVB's international activities in the recent period.

Working visit – Women's European Championship

5 July 2025

Prior to the opening match of the 2025 Women's European Championship against Wales, the KNVB organised a working visit with administrators from across the country. Judith Tielen, State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport, was also present. During the visit, they discussed encouraging girls to play football, equal opportunities in top-level football and increasing the number of women as coaches, administrators and referees. They also discussed how football can contribute to mental health among young people. 

The Netherlands wants to continue to profile itself as a country that hosts top sporting events and is committed to hosting the Women's Under-20 World Cup in 2030. Together with the Unity EURO Cup 2025 for refugees and the ambition to host the Men's Under-19 European Championship in 2028, the KNVB is demonstrating that sport and society reinforce each other. The working visit underlined that all parties, local administrators, the State Secretary and the KNVB are working together to make tournaments with sporting and social impact possible. The presence of Queen Máxima and Princess Ariane at the opening match of the Dutch national team was a great sign of support.

Football and diplomacy in action

9 July 2025

The KNVB organised a screening of the European Championship match between England and the Netherlands at the British Embassy in The Hague. The Netherlands lost this group match 4-0. On the other side of the coin was the success of Sarina Wiegman as England's national coach. She would ultimately help the English team retain their European title. Recently, her former assistant Arjan Veurink was appointed as the new national coach of the Dutch team. This European Championship day at the embassy showed how football can also bring people together off the pitch, from sporting achievements to international relations. 

KNVB strengthens youth development during CONCACAF Summit

6 to 8 August 2025

At the beginning of August, the UEFA Together – CONCACAF Youth Football Summit took place in Curaçao. The KNVB collaborated with the English, German and Belgian associations and all 41 CONCACAF federations. Ed Graper was present on behalf of the KNVB. During the three-day summit, participants worked on case studies and knowledge exchange in the areas of women's football, talent identification, high-performance environments and technological innovation. Inclusivity and leadership opportunities for women and girls were also central themes during the summit, along with strengthening sustainable development paths for young players. The summit also emphasised inclusivity and leadership opportunities for women and girls, and highlighted the value of cooperation between European and CONCACAF associations.

Otten Innovation Cup: innovation in action

17 August 2025

From 15 to 17 August, the 75th Otten Innovation Cup took place in Eindhoven, featuring top Under-19 teams from across Europe. In addition to the matches, innovation took centre stage: the KNVB tested the Refcam, a mini camera that shows the referee's perspective. The Refcam is intended to make the game fairer and serves as an educational tool for referees and players. The small camera next to the referee's ear is designed to make the game fairer and make players and referees more aware of their behaviour. It also gives fans and technical staff a clearer picture of the match. Youth tournaments such as the Otten Innovation Cup are important for testing new technologies and rule changes before they are implemented in professional football. According to Gijs de Jong, secretary general of the KNVB, the Refcam is one of the four major recent innovations in football: VAR, expanded substitution options, captains only and the eight-second rule.

KNVB calls on politicians: continue to invest in development cooperation 

9 September 2025

On 9 September, the KNVB, together with FNV, Council of Churches, Aids Fund, Cordaid, Partos and Oxfam Novib, presented a petition to the House of Representatives. With the appeal “The Netherlands is not an island: invest in development cooperation”, the association is asking politicians to adhere to international agreements and to continue investing in programmes such as KNVB WorldCoaches, which use sport worldwide for development and cooperation. 

The coalition emphasises that it is essential to maintain the link between the development budget and economic growth and the OECD standard. The national budget presented on Prinsjesdag shows that there will be significant cuts in international development cooperation and social sports programmes. These cuts will affect the KNVB WorldCoaches programme, which will have to be phased out more quickly as a result. The KNVB and its partners are calling on the House of Representatives to embed this policy in concrete terms, so that proven effective programmes with a global impact can continue to exist.

European meeting season kicks off

The European meeting season has begun, and the KNVB is actively involved. Experts from the association are sharing their knowledge and experience to help shape the course of European football. For example, the KNVB is providing input on developments in the competition, talent development and organisational issues, thereby contributing to the further professionalisation of football in Europe.

KNVB candidate for UEFA European Under-19 Championship (m) 2028

17 September 2025

The KNVB has officially submitted a bid to host the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (m) in 2028. This is the first time that the Netherlands has applied to host this prestigious tournament. Together with national, regional and local partners, the association wants to create a safe, inclusive and inspiring event that is fully in line with UEFA's vision, in which sporting development and social impact go hand in hand. 

The proposed host cities are Emmen (De Oude Meerdijk), Veendam (Henk Nienhuis Stadium), Almere (Yanmar Stadium) and Volendam (Kras Stadium), in collaboration with the local clubs FC Emmen, Veendam 1894, Almere City FC and FC Volendam. This combination of locations will enable fans to follow Europe's top talents up close, while teams, staff and coaches will have short travel times and be able to perform at their best. 

In addition to the sporting aspect, the KNVB wants to use the tournament as a catalyst for social development. Initiatives are planned to improve the mental health of young people and open up the conversation about mental health issues. The Dutch Under-19 team, which became European champions this summer, shows how crucial this platform is for young players making the transition from talent to international breakthrough. By organising this tournament, the KNVB wants to make a difference that will be felt for a long time to come, both on and off the pitch. 

UEFA General Secretaries meeting

25 September 2025

At the end of September, the general secretaries of the 55 European football associations gathered in Spain for their biannual meeting. Gijs de Jong attended on behalf of the KNVB to contribute his expertise and strengthen the Netherlands' position within European football. During the meeting, participants looked back on the first year of the new format of the UEFA Club Competitions and the Women's EURO in Switzerland last summer. In addition, various substantive topics were on the agenda, including arbitration, finance, legal issues and improving international cooperation between football associations. 

In addition to the plenary sessions, the meeting provided ample opportunity for informal bilateral discussions between representatives of the European associations and UEFA staff. 

KNVB WorldCoaches celebrates 15th anniversary and honours Johan Neeskens

29 September 2025

On Monday morning, KNVB WorldCoaches celebrated its fifteenth anniversary at Nieuwspoort in The Hague. The meeting focused on the legacy of former international footballer Johan Neeskens, who was the figurehead of the programme for many years. In honour of his commitment, the Johan Neeskens Legacy Grant was established, a fund that continues his example and further spreads the power of football as a means of development and community building worldwide. During the meeting, the Neeskens family unveiled the fund's logo for the first time. The morning was led by former international and WorldCoaches ambassador Anouk Hoogendijk.

Since 2009, WorldCoaches has been training local coaches in more than fifty countries, focusing on football skills and themes such as self-confidence, resilience, health and equal opportunities. In fifteen years, more than 17,000 coaches have been trained, reaching more than 700,000 children worldwide. The anniversary provided an opportunity to look back on the impact of the programme and to look ahead to further expansion and strengthening of the social power of sport.

KNVB WorldCoaches: global impact

Indonesia – UN Women

In August, local WorldCoaches in Indonesia organised a follow-up course led entirely by Indonesian teachers. The participants came from the UN Women network, with which the KNVB organised two courses this year. Football was used to discuss and improve safety for women and young people, thereby contributing to awareness and social change.

Papua New Guinea – training local coaches

In September, 30 local WorldCoaches were trained in Papua New Guinea, in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy in Australia and the local football association. The five-day programme took place during Independence Week and concluded with a football festival for children. The chairman of PNGFA and the Dutch ambassador were also present. In this way, young people and communities around the world continue to benefit from the social impact of football.

Lithuania – football and defence

On the day the Netherlands played Lithuania in the World Cup qualifiers (7 September), Dutch soldiers in Kaunas swapped their equipment for whistles and bibs. Together with KNVB WorldCoaches, they organised a sports day for local children, bringing together football and defence to improve safety, connection and resilience. The initiative showed how sport and cooperation transcend borders, while soldiers and coaches simultaneously support the local community.