Finland’s promising start to their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification (WCQ) campaign took a hit on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands. While there’s little shame in falling to the Dutch, it marked the Finns’ first loss in Group G following a win over Malta and a draw with Lithuania. Things don’t get any easier now, as they prepare to face high-flying Poland—historically a dominant foe in this fixture.
The head-to-head record doesn’t offer much comfort for Finland. They’ve won just three of the 31 meetings between the two nations (D8, L20), and their recent form only compounds the challenge. Since that opening matchday win over Malta, Finland have failed to win any of their last ten internationals, drawing two and losing eight. Even more worrying, they’ve lost their last four matches in Helsinki, a run they must end if they’re to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Poland, by contrast, are enjoying a strong start to life in Group G. Victories over Malta and Lithuania, both accompanied by clean sheets, have given them a perfect start to the campaign. A 2-0 friendly win over Moldova on Friday helped maintain that momentum, as the Poles continue to rebuild confidence following their relegation from Nations League A.
Now sitting top of the group, Poland know they must keep the wins coming with a showdown against the Netherlands looming. They’ve shown they can perform away from home in WCQ fixtures, having won each of their last three such games. Adding to their confidence is a dominant recent record against Finland—Poland have won the last two encounters by a combined score of 10-1.
Among the players to watch, Finland’s Oliver Antman stood out against the Netherlands, registering more shots (four) than any of his teammates. He’s known for making an early impact, having opened the scoring in four of his seven international goals. For Poland, Adam Buksa continues to impress—he assisted the opener against Moldova and has had a hand in six goals across his last eight appearances for club or country.
Hot Stat: Finland have managed just one clean sheet in their last 14 international matches.
With Poland in top form and Finland struggling to find consistency, the visitors look well placed to continue their flawless WCQ campaign and keep momentum heading into their critical clash with the Netherlands.
