Leeds United are focused on securing their Premier League safety for one more season. However, several players have one eye on the World Cup.
A few players will be in action in the next international break in the crucial World Cup playoffs, and a few more will be hoping to make the squad for the summer extravaganza.
There has been a lot of talk around Dominic Calvert-Lewin making a surprise return to the England squad just ahead of the World Cup as Thomas Tuchel prepares to pick his penultimate squad ahead of the summer.
However, Calvert-Lewin’s Leeds teammate Joel Piroe has been handed a major boost in his bid to realise his dream of playing at the World Cup, despite playing a limited role for the Whites this season.
Joel Piroe has been named in the squad for Suriname’s World Cup playoff
Former Swansea City striker Joel Piroe represented the Netherlands up to the Under-20 level. But the 26-year-old was never really expected to break into the senior side for his country of birth.
Suriname have been trying to court the forward for some time, but initially Piroe resisted committing to the Caribbean country.
In January, Piroe formally switched his international allegiance to Suriname, qualifying through his father.
The forward has been named in the Suriname squad that will be in action later this month in a set of World Cup playoffs to take one more step towards playing in the big tournament.
They will take on Bolivia in an inter-confederation playoff semi-final in Monterrey on 26th March.
If they win that game, they will face Iraq at the same venue a few days later to determine who takes the flight to North America in the summer.
The Suriname squad features several Dutch-born players with ties to the former South American colony, including former Leeds man Jay-Roy Grot.
The striker has some reason to smile
Piroe was the Championship’s top scorer last season and played a huge role in promoting Leeds to the Premier League.
However, Daniel Farke has indicated that the forward does not have the physical qualities needed to be a regular in the top flight, and he has been reduced to a bit part role.
He scored his first goal of the season in the FA Cup win against Norwich, but was back on the bench for the league games.
Joel Piroe – Leeds United 2025/26 Stats (All Competitions)
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Games | 17 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 528 |
Piroe has cut a lonely figure on the Leeds bench this season. However, a chance to play in the Premier League should energise him for the end of the season.
He finally has a chance to end his season on a high, even if it’s not for Leeds, and play in the World Cup in the summer.
The striker is almost certain to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
