Netherlands U17 edged past Belarus U17 with a 2-1 victory in their UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match on March 31, 2026. The Dutch secured a hard-fought win in a match that was closer than many anticipated, requiring them to come from behind. Belarus shocked the favorites by taking a first-half lead against the run of play with a well-taken counter-attack. The Netherlands responded with increased pressure and found an equalizer just before halftime. The winning goal came in the second half from a moment of individual brilliance, a powerful long-range strike that gave the Belarusian goalkeeper no chance. Belarus continued to threaten on the break, but the Dutch defense held firm to see out the narrow win. This result gets the Netherlands' qualification campaign off to a winning start, though it highlighted areas for improvement. The Belarusian coach praised his team's courageous performance, while the Dutch manager acknowledged the need for better focus after a sluggish start.