Liverpool forward Gakpo has made his decision after losing his son while serving the national team at the 2026 World Cup.
On 29 June 2026 GMT+7, the Royal Dutch Football Association officially informed the media about Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo facing the tragic loss of his son while representing the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
Last Saturday, Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij shared the sad news that their family lost their son, Elijah Rafael Gakpo, during pregnancy, originally expected to be born in October, and they thanked everyone for the love and support they have received.
The Gakpo family's loss came just before the Netherlands' scheduled 2026 World Cup round of 32 match against Morocco, set for 08:00 on Tuesday, 30 June GMT+7 in Thailand time.
The Royal Dutch Football Association has confirmed that Cody Gakpo will continue to support the Netherlands national team in the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing, "The most important thing is that we send our support to Cody and his family, including Noa and their son Samuel."
"This is a sad and personal situation. Of course, we have been informed about what happened, and we are fully committed to supporting his family in every possible way."
"After discussing the situation with his partner, Cody has decided to stay with the team. We respect their privacy and will not provide further comments on this matter, including details about the support we are providing."