Netherlands confirm final 26-man World Cup squad as two Premier League stars miss out
Netherlands have become the latest nation to announce their final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup - with a number of surprise omissions.
Manager Ronald Koeman, who has been in charge of the senior side since 2023, submitted his provisional squad before the deadline earlier this month but it was not made public.
The Dutch will once again be led by Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, who captained Netherlands to the Euro 2024 semi-finals before their 2-1 defeat to England.
The squad has a distinct Premier League feel to it, with no fewer than 14 players selected who play their club football in the English top flight.
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They include Arsenal's Jurrien Timber, Tottenham's Micky van de Ven and Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.
Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer Memphis Depay, who now plays for Brazilian giants Corinthians, will play at his fourth World Cup.
But the biggest talking point by far is the omission of Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong, who has struggled for form during his first season at Anfield since moving from Bayer Leverkusen.
Timber and Denzel Dumfries have instead been chosen as right-back options by Koeman.
Up front, Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has missed out, with Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert preferred instead after an impressive season at Dean Court.
Netherlands 26-man World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)
Defenders: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Guus Til (PSV), Mats Wieffer (Brighton)
Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
Who do Netherlands play at the 2026 World Cup?
Netherlands have been drawn into Group F at the 2026 World Cup, meaning they will face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
They will play each of their matches in different destinations across the United States, with their opener against Japan being played in Arlington before trips to Houston and Kansas City.
Japan were one of the first nations to name their World Cup squad earlier this month, with Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma their big absentee through injury.
Sweden's squad was named even earlier, with manager Graham Potter omitting Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski - who hasn't played in a year - and Barcelona wonderkid Roony Bardghji.
Prior to the World Cup, Koeman's side take on Algeria and tournament debutants Uzbekistan in warm-up friendly matches.
Should they progress through their group, Netherlands could take a host of potential opponents in the expanded round of 32 stage, including on Brazil - who named their squad to significant farfare last week.
READ MORE: Carlo Ancelotti names final 26-man squad as controversial player left out
How Frimpong could still play at the World Cup
Frimpong's absence will be the major highlight from Koeman's original 26-man selection - but he could yet play at the tournament.
It was reported that Koeman had delayed his squad selection from May 25 to give injured players the best opportunity to prove their fitness.
Inter Milan centre-back Stefan de Vrij has missed out after limping out of his side's last game of the season with a thigh problem.
But Timber, who is a doubt for Arsenal's Champions League final and, by extension, the start of the World Cup, has beaten the deadline.
Nations can still make changes to the squad as long as they do so before their first game of the World Cup.
Topics: Netherlands, FIFA World Cup, Ronald Koeman
Ryan Smart