2026 KNVB Cup final
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| Event | 2025–26 KNVB Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 19 April 2026 | ||||||
| Venue | De Kuip, Rotterdam | ||||||
| Referee | Danny Makkelie[1] | ||||||
| Attendance | 46,500 | ||||||
The 2026 KNVB Cup final was the final match of the 2025–26 KNVB Cup, the 108th season of the annual Dutch national football cup competition. The match took place between AZ and NEC on 19 April 2026 at De Kuip, Rotterdam.
AZ defeated NEC 5–1 in the final and qualified for the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League and the Johan Cruyff Shield 2026 due to winning the KNVB Cup.
Teams
| Team | Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|
| AZ | 8 (1978, 1981, 1982, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2025) |
| NEC | 5 (1973, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2024) |
The final is contested by the losing teams of the two previous editions of the KNVB Cup final. AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties a year prior and NEC lost the 2024 final 1–0 to Feyenoord. In total, AZ played in eight previous finals, winning four, whereas no club played as many finals without winning one as NEC, losing all their five previous finals.[2]
Route to the final
In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| AZ | Round | NEC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | 2025–26 KNVB Cup | Opponent | Result |
| Bye | First round | Rijnsburgse Boys (III) | 3–2 (A) | |
| PEC Zwolle (I) | 3–1 (A) | Second round | AFC (III) | 3–1 (A) |
| Ajax (I) | 6–0 (H) | Round of 16 | De Treffers (III) | 2–1 (A) |
| Twente (I) | 2–1 (H) (a.e.t.) | Quarter-finals | Volendam (I) | 1–0 (H) |
| Telstar (I) | 2–1 (H) | Semi-finals | PSV (I) | 3–2 (H) |
Match
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Assistant referees:[1]
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Match rules[3]
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References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Danny Makkelie leidt finale Eurojackpot KNVB Beker tussen AZ en NEC" [Danny Makkelie will referee the KNVB Cup Eurojackpot final between AZ and NEC.]. Eurojackpotknvbbeker.nl (in Dutch). KNVB. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ "De vijfde voor AZ of de eerste voor N.E.C.?" [The fifth for AZ or the first for N.E.C.?]. Eurojackpotknvbbeker.nl (in Dutch). KNVB. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ "Reglement voor het toernooi om de TOTO KNVB Beker seizoen 2023/'24" [Regulations for the tournament of the TOTO KNVB Beker season 2023/'24] (PDF). KNVB.nl (in Dutch). Royal Dutch Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.