BY Grace Zigah
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has appealed for privacy and understanding after he and his partner, Noa van der Bij, announced the heartbreaking loss of their unborn son, just days before the Dutch national team prepares for its FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash.
The Liverpool attacker, who has been one of the Netherlands’ standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is mourning a deeply personal tragedy while remaining with the national team as they continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.
The emotional news was made public on Saturday when Van der Bij, a model and the mother of the couple’s first child, revealed on social media that she had suffered a miscarriage. The couple had been expecting their second child, a baby boy due to be born in October.
Sharing an emotional photograph of the two of them holding hands over a small blanket and a knitted baby hat, Van der Bij expressed the family’s grief.
“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.”
The post quickly attracted an outpouring of support from footballers, clubs, teammates and fans around the world, many offering prayers and messages of comfort to the grieving family.
In another deeply moving post, Van der Bij described a moment that brought the family a measure of comfort amid their sorrow.
She revealed that they visited a church to light a candle in memory of their son before taking a walk to the church playground with their young son, Samuel.
According to Van der Bij, there was only one other child present at the playground, and his name was Elijah—the same name they had chosen for their unborn son.
“There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God,” she wrote. “He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.”
Gakpo later issued a brief statement of his own, thanking supporters for their compassion while asking that his family’s privacy be respected during one of the most painful moments of their lives.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for our family. We kindly ask for our privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding,” the Netherlands international wrote.
The tragedy comes during what has otherwise been an impressive FIFA World Cup campaign for the 27-year-old.
Gakpo has started all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches and has been instrumental in helping his country reach the knockout stages. His standout performance came against Sweden, where he scored twice in an emphatic victory that strengthened the Dutch challenge for the title.
The Netherlands have progressed to the Round of 32 and are scheduled to face Morocco on Tuesday in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the knockout stage.
