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Cody Gakpo scored for the Netherlands in their 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against Morocco on Monday. This came just two days after he and his partner, Noa van der Bij, shared the heartbreaking news that they had lost their unborn son during pregnancy.
Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute in Monterrey, Mexico. After the goal, he fell to the ground, covered his face with his hands, and looked up, pointing to the sky. His teammates quickly gathered around him, forming a circle with their arms as the crowd cheered.
Van der Bij shared the news on her Instagram Stories on Saturday. “With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy,” she wrote. “Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son.”
Gakpo shared the message on his own Instagram Stories and added, “This is an incredibly difficult time for our family. We kindly ask for privacy and space. Thank you for understanding.”
Before the match, the Royal Dutch Football Association said that Gakpo decided to stay with the team after spending time with his family. The association said it was supporting the family and would not comment further.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman spoke about the situation at a pre-match press conference.
“It was very sad news that we learned and that Cody and his family learned,” Koeman told reporters. “We have done what we could to support him, both as players and staff. In the first few days, he was free to be with his family. He handled it well and never said he wanted to leave and be with his family.”
Koeman also said that Gakpo decided to return to the team after talking with his partner. He praised the 27-year-old for his maturity and said the whole squad supported him.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who also plays with Gakpo at Liverpool, spoke before the match about how serious the situation was.
“It's awful news, and it shows that football is secondary,” Van Dijk said. “There are more important things in life. It's very sad, but Cody deals with it, and he's keen to go to the next round. He'll do whatever he can to help the Netherlands progress.”
After Gakpo scored, a broadcaster described the scene on the field: “You can feel the heavy weight of emotion that is running through Cody Gakpo right now, all of his teammates coming together for a man that has been through so much in the last 48 hours, but has put his country ahead.”
Gakpo started the match as Koeman directed and played a key role. The goal was his sixth at the 2026 World Cup and his 10th for the Netherlands at major tournaments, leaving him just one short of the national record. He and Van der Bij welcomed their first son, Samuel, in April 2025.
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