Noa van der Bij, Cody Gakpo’s girlfriend, shows support wearing a Netherlands shirt alongside her son at the 2026 World Cup
Many football enthusiasts globally realize that the Dutch national team may have missed a unique opportunity to win a World Cup, especially with the retirement of historic athletes such as Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie. The general perception is that the “golden generation” has passed.
However, the team that the Netherlands brought to the 2026 World Cup still has a high-quality squad. With defender Virgil van Dijk, considered one of the best defenders today, and talented attackers like Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s left winger, hopes are renewed.
Cody Gakpo will need to demonstrate his full potential if the Dutch team hopes to make significant progress in this year’s championship. A crucial chance for him to stand out will be in the Netherlands’ match against Sweden, scheduled for June 20.
Although Gakpo is not known for his artistic consistency on the field, his personal life appears to be quite stable. The striker has had a long-lasting relationship with Dutch model Noa van der Bij since 2020. This family stability is often cited by sports experts as an important factor in the good performance of athletes under the intense pressure of major international competitions.
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The couple’s union was blessed with the arrival of a son, Samuël Seth Gakpo, born in April 2024.
Since the beginning of his professional football career, Van der Bij has been a constant and supportive presence in Gakpo’s journey, which includes accompanying him to the United States to watch the World Cup games.
She publicly reinforced this support on June 19, by sharing a series of photographs on her Instagram profile. In the images, Noa wore the iconic – and often debated – orange jersey of the Dutch national team, bearing Gakpo’s number 11.
Additionally, Samuël, the couple’s son, appeared in the photos with a miniature orange number 11 shirt, but with the word “Daddy” printed on the back, instead of his father’s surname. Van der Bij’s publication was accompanied by the caption: “Week 2”.
