Netherlands opens World Cup camp with 15 Premier League players

The Netherlands senior squad assembled in Zeist on Tuesday evening for the official start of its 2026 World Cup preparation. The roster now features fifteen Premier League players, up from three in the 2022 tournament coached by Louis van Gaal. Reserve full‑backs Lutsharel Geertruida and Ian Maatsen, both on loan from Premier League clubs, also reported to Zeist. One Premier League player is missing from the 26‑man list. Coach Ronald Koeman highlighted the English league's dominance as a key factor in the selection.

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Jurriën Timber of Arsenal, fresh from a league title, aims to add a Champions League trophy after recovering from a hamstring injury. Martin Keown said Timber is the only player able to stop Chvitsja Kvaratschelia, praising his blend of mobility, technique and aggression. Frenkie de Jong captured the Spanish league title, Denzel Dumfries won the Italian double with Internazionale, Guus Til secured the Dutch championship with PSV and Noa Lang lifted the Turkish league with Galatasaray. Donyell Malen scored fourteen Serie A goals for AS Roma, guiding them to third place and Champions League qualification.

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Zian Flemming netted eleven Premier League goals for Burnley, while Brian Brobbey demonstrated Premier League intensity after returning to the national team from Sunderland. Virgil van Dijk logged nearly 5,000 minutes for Liverpool without missing a Premier League match, and Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo rank among the top five Dutch internationals by minutes played. Justin Kluivert recorded only 1,017 minutes for Bournemouth after a knee injury, yet impressed Ronald Koeman with his freshness during the camp.