Overview
- The couple confirmed late Saturday that their unborn son, named Elijah Raphael Gakpo, died during pregnancy in a series of Instagram posts shared by Noa van der Bij.
- Gakpo posted a brief request for privacy and, after discussions with his partner and family, the Royal Dutch Football Association said he will remain with the Netherlands squad at the 2026 World Cup.
- The posts included a church visit and a personal account of seeing a child called Elijah that the family described as a comforting sign, and they have not disclosed any medical timing or further clinical details.
- Fans, teammates and Liverpool issued public messages of sympathy on social platforms, and outlets reported the KNVB is providing support to the player and his family while asking the media to respect their privacy.
- On the field, Gakpo has been a key player for the Oranje this tournament, starting group matches and scoring twice, and he is expected to be with the squad for their round-of-32 game in Monterrey.