Teun Koopmeiners

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Teun Koopmeiners, the 27-year-old Juventus midfielder, faces a critical period in solidifying his prospects for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands national team. While possessing a strong profile as a goal-scoring midfielder, his recent club form and inconsistent national team involvement in 2025 suggest a competitive battle for a spot in Ronald Koeman's squad.

Current Form and Club Performance (Juventus):

Koopmeiners joined Juventus in August 2024, signing a five-year contract. In his first full season with the club (2024/2025), he made 43 appearances across all competitions, contributing 5 goals and 3 assists. This included 3 goals and 3 assists in 28 Serie A matches, and 9 appearances in the Champions League.

However, reports from late 2025 indicate that Koopmeiners has been undergoing a "difficult spell" at Juventus, with his performances not consistently meeting the high expectations set since his transfer from Atalanta. Despite this, coach Igor Tudor has continued to provide him with opportunities. For the ongoing 2025/2026 season, as of late December 2025, Koopmeiners has featured in 22 matches for Juventus, though specific goal and assist statistics for this period are not yet highlighted as significant, suggesting a continued effort to find his most impactful form.

National Team Involvement (Netherlands):

Koopmeiners has been a consistent presence in the Netherlands national team setup since his senior debut in October 2020 and was part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad. He notably provided a crucial assist in the quarter-final against Argentina. As of March 2025, he had earned 25 caps and scored 3 goals for his country.

However, his national team involvement in 2025 has been characterized by inconsistency. In September 2025, despite being part of the initial 25-player squad for World Cup qualifiers, Koeman made a "technical choice" to exclude Koopmeiners from the 23-player matchday squad for a qualifier against Poland. Later, in October 2025, he received a late call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Finland due to an injury to Quinten Timber but did not play a single minute in either match. These instances suggest a diminished standing in Koeman's immediate plans, with his last appearance for the national team prior to October 2025 being in March of the same year.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Prospects:

By the time the 2026 World Cup commences, Teun Koopmeiners will be 28 years old, theoretically entering his prime footballing years. His proven ability to score from midfield, having been the most prolific goalscoring midfielder in Serie A since the 2021/22 season with 26 goals, including 12 in the 2023/24 Serie A campaign, highlights his potential value.

Nevertheless, the competition for midfield positions within the Dutch squad is strong, with players such as Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, Xavi Simons, Joey Veerman, and Quinten Timber frequently appearing in predicted 2026 World Cup squads. While earlier predictions (from late 2022) sometimes positioned him as a potential starter, more recent projections (December 2025) list him within the broader 26-man squad.

To enhance his prospects for the 2026 World Cup, Koopmeiners must prioritize a resurgence in his club form at Juventus and secure more consistent playing time and impactful performances for the national team. Regaining a more prominent role under Koeman in upcoming international fixtures will be crucial in demonstrating his indispensability for the Oranje. His ability to navigate this challenging period at both club and international level will ultimately determine his significance in the Netherlands' 2026 World Cup campaign.