Oranje forward Gakpo to remain at World Cup after death of unborn son

The unborn son of the Dutch forward Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij has died during pregnancy, the couple announced Saturday. Gakpo said he will remain with the national team for its World Cup round-of-16 match against Morocco. The decision was reportedly made jointly with Van der Bij and supported by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).

Noah van der Bij announced the news on Instagram. She wrote that the couple was sharing “the devastating news with a broken heart that our son had died during the pregnancy." She thanked everyone for their “love and support.” Van der Bij added that the son's name was to be Elijah Raphael Gakpo. "Forever loved, forever our son."

Gakpo also posted a statement on Instagram, asking for privacy. He wrote that “this is incredibly difficult for our family," while thanking people for their understanding.

Gakpo and Van der Bij announced at the end of May that they were expecting their second child. The couple has been together since 2020 and welcomed their first child, a son named Samuel, in April 2024.

The KNVB said Gakpo, a Liverpool forward who plays for the Netherlands and has 53 international appearances, will remain with the squad. The federation said the decision was made “in consultation with his partner” and that it is “supporting the family wherever possible.”

Gakpo started in all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches at the tournament in the United States, where Van der Bij was also present.

The Netherlands will face Morocco in the round of 16 in Monterrey, Mexico, at 3 a.m. Dutch time Monday into Tuesday. The team trained behind closed doors Saturday. It is scheduled to fly to Mexico on Sunday after training.