Netherlands Hand First Call-Up to Chelsea-Bound Strasbourg Striker Emmanuel Emegha as Weghorst Faces Fitness Doubt

Selected on club form with Weghorst a doubt, the 22-year-old debuts before Warsaw, where a draw would effectively book the Netherlands’ World Cup place.

Overview

The KNVB said Ronald Koeman added Emegha because Wout Weghorst is not fully fit, with the Ajax forward’s availability for Poland to be assessed.
Emegha’s inclusion is his first senior Netherlands call-up ahead of qualifiers against Poland in Warsaw and Lithuania.
The Strasbourg captain has started fast this season, scoring six goals with two assists in eight games after a 14-goal, three-assist league campaign last year.
Emegha is due to join Chelsea after the 2026 World Cup under a transfer agreed in September that has drawn anger from Strasbourg fans over BlueCo-linked player moves.
Group-leading Netherlands can all but secure World Cup qualification with a draw in Warsaw before finishing the window against Lithuania.