Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020.

The Netherlands national football team is rallying around their star forward after a profound Cody Gakpo unborn son tragedy was made public on Saturday. Gakpo and his partner, model Noa van der Bij, shared the heartbreaking news that their unborn baby boy, who was due to be born this coming October, passed away during pregnancy. Despite facing this immense personal grief, the 27-year-old Liverpool forward has made the deeply personal choice to stay with the Dutch squad at their World Cup base camp in Kansas City. The Netherlands team management, which recently completed an impressive 2-1-0 group stage campaign to secure first place in Group F, fully backed his decision following private family discussions. The forward's choice ensures he remains available for selection as the Netherlands prepares for their upcoming Round of 32 knockout fixture against Morocco on Monday.

Royal Dutch Football Association Pledges Full Support

The tragic reality behind the scenes stood in stark contrast to the team's professional successes on the North American pitches. Following the private notification of the coaching staff, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) released a compassionate message regarding the winger's status.

"We are with Cody and his family," a statement read. "This is a very sad private situation. Of course we knew about this and we support him in every way we can. Cody has decided, after talks with his girlfriend, to stay with the group. We respect their privacy and will make no further comments."

Gakpo himself broke his silence on social media shortly afterward. He shared a brief message on his Instagram story to express his current state of mind while shielding his loved ones from external noise.

"This is an incredibly difficult time for our family. We kindly ask for privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding."

A Heartbreaking Announcement and a Moving Sign

Van der Bij shared the news by publishing a poignant photograph of the couple holding hands over a blanket and a small, knitted baby hat. She accompanied the image with a note identifying their second child, who would have been a younger brother to their two-year-old son, Samuel.

"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."

In a subsequent social media update, she described a deeply comforting moment that occurred when she visited a local sanctuary to honor the memory of their child.

"We went to church to light a candle. Afterward, we walked to the church playground with our son Samuel. There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah. There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away."

Balancing Tournament Duty with Personal Grief

Gakpo has been a central driving force for manager Ronald Koeman throughout the tournament. Building on his standout form from Euro 2024, where he finished as the joint-top scorer, the forward was instrumental in guiding the Dutch through Group F. He famously delivered a stellar two-goal performance against Sweden last week to solidify his team’s position at the top of the standings.

Reporters on the ground note that the entire Dutch camp has formed a tight protective circle around Gakpo during recent closed training sessions. While football naturally takes a secondary role in the wake of such a family loss, his presence provides a significant emotional and tactical anchor for the squad ahead of their trip to Monterrey, Mexico.

For fans tracking the tournament data and exploring how these emotional dynamics might impact the upcoming match odds, you can view our detailed smart football tournament betting tips for an analytical breakdown. For complete details regarding the knockout stage schedule and squad tracking, visit the official FIFA World Cup website.