Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Thu 19 March 2026 8:10, UK

Joel Piroe has a shot at making this year’s World Cup after the Leeds United striker was named in Suriname’s latest squad.

Suriname have been courting Piroe for some time now, but the Leeds forward resisted committing his future to the Caribbean country.

Former Swansea City man Piroe represented the Netherlands up until the Under-20s but the 26-year-old was never likely to play for his country of birth at the senior level.

In January, Piroe finally pledged international allegiance to Suriname, qualifying through his father.

Despite Piroe’s lack of game time at Leeds, he can look forward to a World Cup play-off against Bolivia on 26 March in Monterrey.

Joel Piroe two games away from World Cup debut

On Wednesday, Piroe, who had a promising youth career for the Dutch, was named in a 26-man squad for Suriname’s inter-confederation playoff ​semi-final against Bolivia in Monterrey next Thursday.

If they win that, they will take on Iraq at the same venue five days later to determine who reaches this summer’s World Cup in ​Canada, Mexico and the United States in June.

Suriname are looking to qualify for a first-ever World Cup in what is the first match in charge for Henk ⁠ten Cate after Stanley Menzo resigned when they failed to qualify directly in November’s CONCACAF preliminaries.

The Suriname squad is made up of many Dutch-born players with roots in the former South American colony, including ex-Leeds player Jay-Roy Grot.

If Suriname win their next two matches, they will go into Group I, where they will face off against heavyweights and 2018 World Cup winners France, along with Norway and Senegal.

Piroe gets international boost amid Leeds woes

Former PSV Eindhoven youngster Piroe has had a difficult season for Leeds.

After being their top scorer last season with 19 goals as Leeds lifted the Championship title, he has scored just once in 17 games in all competitions this term.

His last Premier League start came way back in August in a 5-0 loss at Arsenal, with the striker having to make do with first-team outings in the FA Cup. Piroe’s most recent outing came against Norwich City.

Piroe is behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the attacking pecking order and if Leeds stay up, he may become even more surplus to requirements.

His contract at Elland Road runs until 2027 and even if Leeds go down, there is no guarantee Piroe will stick around.

It seems like a parting of the ways will come this summer but he still has a lot to look forward to, including with Suriname.