Netherlands sweating over Memphis Depay injury concern before World Cup

Netherlands forward Memphis Depay is facing an anxious wait ahead of the 2026 World Cup after suffering another setback in his recovery from injury, raising fresh concerns over his fitness for the tournament.

The Corinthians striker has been sidelined since late March with a thigh problem, but reports emerging from Brazil indicate that the Dutchman is now struggling with pain in his other leg during rehabilitation.

The latest development has increased fears within both club and country as the countdown to the World Cup continues.

Brazilian side Corinthians have responded cautiously to the situation and are unwilling to take any unnecessary risks with the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer.

As a result, Depay will not travel to Uruguay for the club’s Copa Libertadores encounter against Peñarol, while his availability for the upcoming fixture against Atlético Mineiro also remains in serious doubt.

The timing of the setback presents a major concern for Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, who is expected to announce his World Cup squad in seven days.

Depay’s lack of competitive minutes and ongoing fitness issues have complicated the situation, although Koeman is still believed to be hopeful that the striker can recover in time if he is able to return to action quickly.

Inside Corinthians, there is also growing concern about the possibility of a relapse. Club officials are determined to avoid worsening the injury, knowing that another setback could place Depay’s World Cup participation in serious jeopardy.

The former Olympique Lyonnais and FC Barcelona forward is understood to be frustrated by the situation as every missed match further reduces the chances of arriving at the tournament in full condition.

With time running out before the World Cup begins, the pressure is mounting on Depay to regain match fitness.

The coming days are expected to be crucial as both the player and the Netherlands medical staff continue monitoring his recovery closely in the hope he can still be ready for the tournament.