Van Dijk accepts responsibility as Netherlands crash out of World Cup to Morocco on penalties

Virgil van Dijk has publicly accepted responsibility for the Netherlands’ shock last-32 exit at the 2026 World Cup, after Morocco eliminated Ronald Koeman’s side on penalties in Mexico. Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all failed to convert from the spot, sending the African side through to face France in the quarter-finals.

“As captain, all I ever wanted was to make this country proud,” Van Dijk wrote on Instagram. “To see our World Cup end so early is heartbreaking because I know how much this team gave every single day.”

“A lot has been said and that is for another day. Now is about accepting that we failed, and we take full responsibility for that. I’d like to thank our travelling fans and everyone back home who believed in us and stood by us until the end. We saw you, and we felt your support every step of the way.”

The statement comes after head coach Koeman stepped down in the days following the defeat. Former Liverpool manager Arne Slot is understood to be among the frontrunners to take over the national team, which would see him reunited with Liverpool players Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.

Should Slot be appointed, his first fixture could carry an added layer of intrigue. The Netherlands are scheduled to face Germany in the UEFA Nations League in September, and Jurgen Klopp — Slot’s predecessor at Anfield — is widely expected to take charge of Die Mannschaft after Julian Nagelsmann’s departure. Klopp acknowledged the timing of a potential move in comments to Magenta TV: “When I stopped at Liverpool, I lacked the energy for even one more year with the club, and I’m more than recharged now.”

For Van Dijk personally, the early elimination means he will return to Liverpool ahead of schedule for pre-season, where he will meet new Reds head coach Andoni Iraola — who succeeded Slot at the end of last season — for the first time.