Feyenoord’s Exit from Europe Signals Troubling Times for Dutch Football

Feyenoord was definitively eliminated from European competition on Thursday evening after a loss to Real Betis. They join other Dutch teams such as PSV, Ajax, FC Utrecht, and Go Ahead Eagles, all of whom have also been knocked out of Europe. This series of defeats underscores a troubling trend for Dutch football.

The Netherlands is at risk of losing its second direct ticket to the Champions League. Eredivisie CV director Jan de Jong conveyed to the Algemeen Dagblad, “Last summer, we had a 95 percent chance of maintaining our sixth-place position beyond 2027. We were well ahead of our competitor, Portugal, but that lead has evaporated in just a few months. This could mean a loss of €70 to €80 million starting next year, which will have significant repercussions even in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.”

The KNVB expressed additional concern over Feyenoord’s decision to field a B-team against Braga in the opening round. De Jong remarked, “Coaches tend to focus on immediate results, which is understandable. However, we have consistently pointed out the long-term effects of such decisions. The fact that some teams in Europe did not field their strongest squads, even against direct rivals, has led to considerable confusion.”

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