Netherlands Unveils Squad for Historic 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is set to commence in just a few weeks, featuring an expanded format with 48 teams competing for the first time. This largest-ever edition of the tournament will see numerous nations participating for the first time, while others make their return after years away. For many, this World Cup represents another attempt to elevate their country to the pinnacle of football.

The Netherlands is among these nations, having secured qualification through the UEFA qualification process. In their group, which included Poland, Finland, Malta, and Lithuania, the Dutch finished on top with a total of twenty points from eight matches.

As they pursue global glory, the nation has now announced its squad, which includes former Manchester United players Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst, both named in the 26-man team. Depay, who appeared 53 times for United during a two-year stint, will be participating in his third World Cup, following the tournaments in 2014 and 2022. Weghorst makes his return to the World Cup squad for the second time after making his debut in the 2022 tournament.

However, Matthijs de Ligt is notably absent from the list as he continues recovering from recent back surgery. The 26-year-old, who played in the 2022 World Cup, has dealt with injuries for a significant portion of the season, with his last appearance occurring in late November.

Despite de Ligt’s absence posing a challenge, the Netherlands remains hopeful that it will not drastically impact their chances for success in the tournament. The squad is scheduled to face Algeria and Uzbekistan in friendly matches before competing against Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia in their group this June.