Key Takeaways:
- Ronald Koeman has confirmed his 26-man Netherlands squad for the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States
- Memphis Depay and Jurriën Timber were both included after overcoming recent injuries
- Jeremie Frimpong, Joey Veerman, and Stefan de Vrij have been left out of the squad
Major Inclusions and Absentees
The Royal Dutch Football Association and Ronald Koeman have officially named Netherlands’ 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Memphis Depay, who leads the Netherlands in both goals and assists, is fit for selection following his recovery from a hamstring problem. Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber also seals his place, having overcome manager Koeman’s earlier concerns over his fitness.
Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth receives a call-up after enduring a long spell on the sidelines due to injury. He is expected to offer significant options for the attacking midfield, compensating for the absence of Spurs’ Xavi Simons, who suffered an ACL tear in April.
OFFICIAL: Ronald Koeman has named his 26-man Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/ChJxMHA5VJ
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 27, 2026
The Netherlands midfield will also be without PSV captain Jerdy Schouten, who is ruled out through a similar injury. Notably, Schouten’s club teammate Joey Veerman was not even named in Koeman’s provisional 55-man squad.
Atalanta captain Marten de Roon returns to the national side, having last worn the Oranje shirt in March 2024, stepping in to cover for Schouten and Veerman. PSV’s Guus Til is also reinstated, with the 6-cap midfielder having made only one appearance for the national team since June 2022.
Defensively, Stefan de Vrij and Jeremie Frimpong are among the most prominent names omitted from the final 26.
Complete 26-Man Netherlands Squad
| Position | Players (Club) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
World Cup Group Stage Fixtures
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Sunday, 14 June | Netherlands vs Japan |
| Saturday, 20 June | Netherlands vs Sweden |
| Friday, 26 June | Tunisia vs Netherlands |
Squad Analysis and Notable Storylines
The Oranje will enter the tournament with a blend of proven veterans and a number of fresh faces. Memphis Depay’s return is crucial, providing both experience and a goal threat. The inclusion of Justin Kluivert helps counterbalance the unfortunate losses of Xavi Simons and Jerdy Schouten, both sidelined by ACL injuries.
Key exclusions, such as Jeremie Frimpong, Joey Veerman, and Stefan de Vrij, have sparked discussion amongst supporters and analysts alike. Veerman, in particular, has publicly criticised his omission, stating: “If you keep holding press conferences like that and saying I’m not a good person, then at some point I’ll just have had enough. He doesn’t need to call me anymore,” Veerman told ESPN.
With fixtures against Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, Koeman’s squad will be thoroughly tested as they seek to progress beyond the group stage in North America.
