Netherlands Field First World Cup Team Without Eredivisie Players
June 15, 2026 · Rubén Pérez
Ronald Koeman has named a Netherlands squad for their World Cup match against Japan that features no players from the Eredivisie, a first for the national team on such a stage. The team is predominantly made up of Premier League talents.
In an unprecedented move, Ronald Koeman has selected a Netherlands team for their World Cup clash against Japan without any players from the Eredivisie. This marks the first time in the history of Dutch World Cup appearances that no player from the domestic league has been included in the starting lineup. The squad is instead heavily populated by Premier League stars, with eight players currently plying their trade in England's top division. These include Bart Verbruggen and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch, Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven, Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders, West Ham United's Crysencio Summerville, and Cody Gakpo, also from Liverpool. Additionally, Frenkie de Jong represents La Liga's Barcelona, while Donyell Malen and Denzel Dumfries are currently playing in Italy's Serie A for AS Roma and Internazionale respectively. With limited options from the Eredivisie, such as Wout Weghorst from Ajax and Guus Til from PSV, Koeman's selection reflects a strategic reliance on international experience.
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