Van der Sar and Winter recall 1994 World Cup on FIFA Podcast

Former Netherlands internationals Edwin van der Sar and Aron Winter have joined Mickael Silvestre on the latest episode of the FIFA Podcast to discuss their memories of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States and the current tournament in 2026.

1994 World Cup memories

Winter, now 59, and Van der Sar, 55, were part of Dick Advocaat's squad for the first World Cup held on US soil. Winter was a regular starter, while Van der Sar served as backup goalkeeper to Ed de Goey. The pair were roommates at times and recalled their experiences in conversation with Silvestre.

“We were so happy to be here in ‘94,” Winter said. “We were completely surprised because of how everything was very well arranged. The pitches were beautiful. The facilities were great. It was a beautiful tournament. We didn’t start well but in the end we went to the next round and in the end, we were a little bit unlucky in the quarter-final against Brazil.”

Van der Sar described the tournament as a learning experience. “It was really great for me to learn, to see what’s happening,” he said. “I’d never been to America so ‘94, you came here and the heat, the temperature, the humidity, being a long way from home... We stayed in Orlando, in a golf resort. There was a pitch made for us to train there.”

The Netherlands squad of 1994

Van der Sar listed some of the standout players from that generation, including current Oranje coach Ronald Koeman, Jan Wouters, Frank Rijkaard, Aron Winter, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank and Ronald de Boer, and Marc Overmars. “Those kinds of guys,” he added.

Quarterfinal heartbreak against Brazil

Advocaat's team won their group by beating Saudi Arabia and Morocco either side of a defeat to Belgium. After a last-16 victory over the Republic of Ireland, they faced Brazil in the quarterfinal at Dallas's Cotton Bowl. Brazil took a 2-0 lead through Romario and Bebeto, but Bergkamp and Winter struck back to level the score. Branco's fierce late strike from distance won the game for the eventual champions.

Both players focused their recollections on Bergkamp's goal. “I don't think he ever scored an ugly goal,” Van der Sar said of the forward, who displayed typical composure as he stroked the ball past Claudio Taffarel. Winter added: “It’s always nice when you've got in your team some players who can make a difference. We’re speaking about Dennis Bergkamp. He was really a good player, intelligent, elegant. I think that he [scored] only beautiful goals, but with the right touch. When you've got some players of that quality in your team, you’ll play for those players because you know if you give them the ball in a certain part of the [pitch] he’ll be important and will also decide games for you.”

Ronaldo and 1998

The conversation then turned to Brazil striker Ronaldo, who scored against the Netherlands in the 1998 semifinal in Marseille, a match that ended 1-1 and saw the Dutch eliminated on penalties. “In the box, [with him] nine of the ten times it was a goal,” Van der Sar recalled. “You always tried to get him far away from your own goal [but] you never knew which side he’d go. On the right side and the left side, both sides he was good.”

Winter is currently part of the FIFA Technical Study Group led by Arsene Wenger at the 2026 World Cup.