Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo is a confirmed forward in the Netherlands' 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on 27 May 2026, named by Ronald Koeman in the forward group. The Liverpool left winger is 27 at kick-off and brings 48 senior Netherlands caps and 19 international goals, as of 31 March 2026, into the tournament, making this his second senior World Cup after Qatar 2022.

Netherlands face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F, with the opener against Japan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 14 June, then Sweden at NRG Stadium in Houston and Tunisia at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Koeman's side won UEFA Group G unbeaten on 20 points, three ahead of Poland, with a 4-0 win over Lithuania sealing the spot on 17 November 2025.

Gakpo is usually deployed as a left winger and can also play a more central attacking role as a centre-forward. He often cuts inside on his right foot to move into central positions, using speed and dribbling to take on defenders until he finds space to shoot.

At Liverpool he has spent most of his minutes in a midfield and centre-forward role rather than on the left. Koeman's adjustable approach — switching between 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and occasionally a back three — gives Gakpo's role across the front line scope to operate, with full-back Denzel Dumfries supplying width on the other side.

Netherlands sit in Tier 2 at £24m within the game's £200m card budget — a second-tier call rather than a premium top-band slot. The Group F draw against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia frames the early fixture window, with Koeman's adjustable shape between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 and the unbeaten UEFA Group G qualifying run setting the team-slot context.

Gakpo is the forward-line versatility behind the Oranje's £24m pick. Three consecutive group-stage goals at Qatar 2022 plus pace and dribbling from the left into the box — direct front-line contribution that pays back the slot when Koeman fields him.