Gakpo Family Tragedy Strikes as Brobbey Fires Netherlands Into Last 16

Last Updated on June 28, 2026

Liverpool star Cody Gakpo mourns the loss of his unborn son during the 2026 World Cup, while Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey emerges as a tournament revelation with three goals for the Netherlands and praise from both Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer.

Gakpo Asks for Privacy After Losing Unborn Son Mid-Tournament

Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij have asked for privacy after announcing the devastating loss of their unborn son. Van der Bij shared the news on social media on 27 June, writing: "With a broken heart, we share that our little son passed away during the pregnancy." The baby had been due in October. The couple, who already have one son together, have received an outpouring of support from across the football world.

Gakpo, 25, started all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup and scored twice during the tournament, maintaining his place as a key creative figure in Ronald Koeman’s side. The Netherlands now face Morocco in the round of 16 on Tuesday. The football community has rallied around him while respecting the family’s request for privacy during this period of grief.

Brobbey Shines at World Cup With Three Goals and Praise From Henry and Shearer

Brian Brobbey is having the World Cup of his life. The 24-year-old Netherlands striker has scored three goals at the 2026 tournament — twice against Sweden and once against Tunisia — and only Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Júnior and Ousmane Dembélé have netted more at this World Cup. The tournament has even turned into a family affair: the evening before the Tunisia match, his brother Derrick Luckassen found the net for Ghana.

The journey here began with a difficult final season at Ajax, where doubts were raised about Brobbey’s finishing and overall quality. He responded by leaving the Netherlands entirely, joining Sunderland in the Premier League. "I stepped out of my comfort zone. New people, new environment. The best competition. It’s faster, it’s more physical," he says. "I had no doubts. I know what I can do." That English football education transformed him into the striker now tormenting defences at the World Cup.

The praise from football royalty has been remarkable. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry said in January on Sky Sports: "It’s very old-school — you have to hold your position and control the defender. Then the striker dictates where the game goes, instead of the defender. And Brobbey does that extremely well," comparing him directly to Premier League icon Alan Shearer. Shearer himself, working as a BBC pundit after the Netherlands’ group win over Sweden, said: "He gives Sweden’s three defenders a nightmare. He’s far too strong for them, he blows them away with his strength and pace. They have absolutely no grip on him." Netherlands assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooij — who scored 35 goals in 70 international appearances — has been refining Brobbey’s positioning since joining the national staff in February, focusing on movement before goal and how to position when a cross comes in. Brobbey’s ambition for the rest of the tournament is unambiguous: "I want to win the World Cup." With a winning goal in the final? "That would be nice."

DR Congo Reach World Cup Last 16 for First Time as Wissa Fires a Brace

DR Congo have reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in a nerve-shredding group finale. They needed all three points to progress and were immediately tested: Eldor Shomurodov put Uzbekistan ahead after 10 minutes and that lead lasted nearly an hour. Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa finally broke the deadlock with a penalty to level the scores before Fiston Mayele nudged Congo ahead with a close-range finish.

Wissa then settled the contest in added time, curling a superb effort elegantly into the far corner to complete his brace and seal a historic result. Congo advance as one of the eight best third-placed sides in the tournament, ending a long wait for a place in the World Cup’s knockout rounds. Uzbekistan, who failed to win any of their three group games, are eliminated from the competition.

Former Man United Striker Weghorst Returns Home With Two-Year Twente Deal

Wout Weghorst has completed a move to FC Twente, signing a two-year contract as a free agent and returning to the region where he grew up. The 33-year-old arrives after two seasons at Ajax, with previous spells at Wolfsburg, Burnley, Besiktas, Manchester United and Hoffenheim also on his résumé. He is currently competing for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, where he holds 52 caps and 14 international goals.

The move is a homecoming in the truest sense — Weghorst was born in nearby Borne and has spoken of watching FC Twente win the KNVB Cup in 2001 and 2011, and celebrating their Dutch league title on the main square in 2010. "This makes the circle complete," he said. Twente technical director Erik ten Hag called it "an extraordinary opportunity: a player with such an impressive track record is normally out of reach for FC Twente."

World Cup 2026 Shatters All-Time Scoring Record Ahead of Schedule

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially broken the all-time goal-scoring record for a men’s tournament. USA defender Auston Trusty, a former Arsenal player, scored the historic 173rd goal of the competition — his strike against Turkey surpassing the previous record of 172 set across 64 matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. By the time the group stage neared its conclusion, 177 goals had been scored in just 60 games. The record fell midway through the final round of group fixtures — significantly earlier than many had anticipated, even after the expansion from 32 to 48 teams that made a new benchmark all but inevitable.

Around the World Cup: Brief News

Iran and Egypt drew 1-1 in World Cup group-stage action, a result that carried considerable emotional and symbolic weight beyond the 90 minutes for supporters on both sides. Read about Egypt’s first-ever World Cup win earlier in this tournament.

North Tyneside grassroots club Wallsend Boys — which already produced Premier League legend Alan Shearer — is reportedly on the verge of yet another historic milestone. Elliot Anderson is said to be close to a £116 million move to Manchester City, a fee that would eclipse the amount Arsenal paid for Declan Rice in 2023 and make Anderson the most expensive British footballer of all time.

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