Netherlands announce final squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Virgil van Dijk
The Oranje confirms their official World Cup squad.
Ronald Koeman’s full 26-man Netherlands team for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States has been revealed.
The Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer and assist provider, Memphis Depay, has recovered in time for the World Cup from a hamstring injury. Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber is also included despite manager Ronald Koeman’s initial reservations.
After months of struggling with injuries, Koeman also called up Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert. Oranje’s attacking midfield will benefit from Kluivert, as Spurs’ Xavi Simons will be out due to an ACL tear sustained in April.
Jerdy Schouten, the captain of PSV, will also miss the competition due to an ACL tear, making Simons and him among the two important midfielders who will miss it.
Joey Veerman, Schouten’s teammate and Eredivisie Player of the Season, was not even included on Koeman’s first 55-man roster. Since Euro 2024, Veerman has not represented the Netherlands.
Marten de Roon, who last played for the Netherlands in March 2024, is back with the Oranje team. Schouten and Veerman are replaced in the 26-man roster by the Atalanta skipper.
Netherlands are once again seen as one of the big sides that can challenge other top nations. But this time, Koeman will lead the Dutch team. Louis Van Gaal took charge of the last World Cup and guided them to the quarterfinals.
Netherlands World Cup 2026 squad
Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)
Defenders: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Spurs), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Mats Wieffer (Brighton)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Guus Til (PSV), Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille)
Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
Which group are Netherlands in?
They are in Group F.
When is their first game?
It’s on 15th June, 1:30 am IST against Japan.
Which big name has been dropped from the squad?
Xavi Simons.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.