Jeremy Frimpong from Liverpool will not represent the Netherlands in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, while the team’s top scorer, Memphis Depay, has recovered from injury just in time for manager Ronald Koeman to name him in the 26-man squad.
Depay is one of three players returning from injury who have been selected by Koeman ahead of the global tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, despite having limited playing time in recent weeks.
As the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer with 55 goals, Depay recently made his first appearance in weeks for his Brazilian club, Corinthians, after recovering from a thigh injury.
Koeman acknowledged the situation, stating that he had hoped for a different timeline. He emphasized that the coaching staff would need to monitor Depay’s fitness as the tournament approaches.
In light of Depay’s ongoing fitness issues, Koeman is also counting on the in-form Donyell Malen, who plays for Roma. Additionally, Justin Kluivert, son of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, has returned to fitness after knee surgery and joins the squad alongside defender Julian Timber, who just celebrated a Premier League win with Arsenal. Timber’s younger brother, Quinten, has also made the cut.
Interestingly, Koeman included West Ham winger Crisencio Somerville as a newcomer, while Frimpong was notably left out of the squad, having struggled with injuries throughout the season.
When asked about Somerville’s selection, Koeman praised his speed and defensive capabilities, highlighting his reliability during matches.
The three-time World Cup runners-up might also consider bringing experienced defender Virgil van Dijk into the fold. However, they will be missing key players like Xavi Simmons, who suffered a torn ACL in April, and central defenders Stefan de Vrij and Matthijs de Ligt, both sidelined due to injuries.
Lutsharel Gertruida and Ian Maatzen are currently listed as injured reserves. The Netherlands, which went undefeated during World Cup qualifying, will compete in Group F against Sweden, Japan, and Tunisia.
Despite reaching three World Cup finals, the Netherlands has yet to claim the prestigious title, finishing as runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010. Reflecting on the team’s prospects, Koeman stated that while they aspire to win, they recognize the challenges presented by other leading nations. He expressed confidence in their ability to compete but acknowledged that they have significant hurdles ahead.
During the team’s preparation and the tournament, Koeman plans to avoid media distractions, focusing solely on performance. He mentioned the necessity of maintaining concentration, describing the outside noise as potentially disruptive.
Dutch national team at the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Mark Frecken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roofs (Sunderland), Bad Verbruggen (Brighton)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jorel Hato (Chelsea), Julian Timber (Arsenal), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Grabenbirch (Liverpool), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijani Reynders (Manchester City), Guus Till (PSV), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Mats Wiefer (Brighton)
Forwards: Brian Brobby (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noah Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crisencio Somerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
