Overview
- On Saturday, June 27, Noa van der Bij wrote on Instagram that the couple’s unborn son, whom they named Elijah Raphael, died during the pregnancy.
- Cody Gakpo also posted on Instagram asking for privacy and said the period is incredibly difficult for the family.
- Reports say Gakpo remains with the Netherlands squad but showed limited public activity in training earlier in the week, with one outlet reporting he did not leave the team bus and was driven away.
- The announcement comes days before the Netherlands’ round-of-16 World Cup match against Morocco and has prompted a large outpouring of public support on social media.
- The couple had revealed the pregnancy about four weeks earlier and have a young son, Samuel, and the news could affect short-term team planning and player welfare as staff monitor Gakpo’s availability and wellbeing.