Netherlands Call Up Chelsea-Bound Emegha to Cover Unfit Weghorst Ahead of Poland and Lithuania Qualifiers

A draw in Warsaw would effectively secure the Dutch a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Overview

Emegha, 22, receives his first senior Netherlands call-up as cover with Wout Weghorst not fully fit for Friday’s trip to Poland.
The KNVB said Weghorst’s availability for Poland will be assessed in the coming days before the final match against Lithuania.
The Netherlands top their group and need only a point in Warsaw to all but confirm qualification before hosting Lithuania.
Emegha’s selection follows strong Strasbourg form, including six goals and two assists in his first eight games after a 14-goal Ligue 1 season as captain.
Chelsea agreed in September to sign Emegha from Strasbourg after the World Cup, a BlueCo-linked move that drew fan anger in France, with player traffic between the clubs including loans and the sale of Ben Chilwell.