Nathan Aké

Nathan Aké is a confirmed defender in Netherlands' 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester City centre-back is 31 at kick-off and brings 58 senior Netherlands caps and five international goals into the tournament. This is his second senior World Cup, after a Qatar 2022 run in which he started all five matches as the Oranje reached the quarter-finals.

Netherlands face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F, opening against Japan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 14 June. The Oranje qualified by winning UEFA Group G on 17 November 2025, finishing unbeaten on 20 points and three points clear of Poland in second, with a 4-0 win over Lithuania sealing the spot.

Aké is a centre-back whose versatility extends to full-back and defensive midfield. Passing range, reading of the game, work ethic and gifted technique sit alongside the physical profile of a strong defender comfortable in one-on-one situations and adept at tackles and interceptions. The aerial work carries at both ends, with positional reading placing him in the right place for blocks and clearances, and his calmness on the ball has drawn comparison to former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit.

Versatility across centre-back, full-back and defensive midfield is what Aké gives the £24m Netherlands Tier 2 slot within the game's £200m card budget. Koeman has switched between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 across qualifying, and Aké's range covers the cover options across the back four if injuries or shape changes force a reshuffle. Group F opens against Japan in Arlington on 14 June, then Sweden and Tunisia in Houston and Kansas City.