ARLINGTON, Texas — A day before the Netherlands kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F campaign against Japan, head coach Ronald Koeman has delivered a major boost to Oranje fans: every member of his squad, including injury concerns Bart Verbruggen and Memphis Depay, is fully fit and available for selection for Friday’s opening match.
The availability of starting goalkeeper Verbruggen had been shrouded in doubt following a awkward collision in a pre-tournament warm-up fixture against Uzbekistan earlier this week, which left him with a hip injury. The 22-year-old shot-stopper was forced to sit out the team’s full training session on Wednesday as the medical staff monitored his recovery. However, Koeman confirmed Saturday that Verbruggen has now returned to full training sessions both Friday and Saturday, clearing all fitness tests ahead of the game.
Depay, the Netherlands’ all-time leading goalscorer with 55 international goals to his name, had also been racing against the clock to prove his fitness ahead of the tournament. The attacker had been managing a nagging thigh injury for several weeks before featuring for his club side Corinthians just three days before the Dutch national team was set to confirm their final 26-man World Cup squad.
Despite the extended spell of injury management, Koeman says the experienced forward has been in excellent form from the very first day of the national team’s pre-tournament camp. Speaking through an interpreter Saturday, the head coach emphasized Depay’s outsized importance to the Netherlands’ title hopes in the tournament.
“He is an important player, has been for a very long time,” Koeman said. “He’s a key part to our possible success in this World Cup.”
While Koeman confirmed full fitness across the entire squad, he declined to reveal his official starting XI for the Group F opener, keeping Japanese preparations in the dark ahead of the opening kickoff.