Premier League star swaps international team bidding for World Cup qualification

Leeds striker Joel Piroe has been called up by Suriname ahead of their crunch World Cup playoff clash.

Henk ten Cate’s side face South American giants Bolivia next week in their bid to book a 2026 World Cup spot.

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The competition itself will be the biggest in history, with 48 teams taking part this summer.

Suriname are looking to secure a spot at football’s showpiece for the first time and have been selecting uncapped Dutch-born players as they seek to jet to North America this summer.

And Piroe has accepted the call to represent the national team for their upcoming clash with Bolivia.

The Leeds striker, who was born in Wijchen and represented the Netherlands up until U20 level, is eligible to turn out for Suriname through his father.

The 26-year-old switched international allegiance to the Caribbean nation back in January.

Piroe was instrumental as Leeds returned to the Premier League as champions last season, scoring 19 goals and laying on seven assists for the Yorkshire side.

However, the former Swansea man has struggled for minutes under Daniel Farke this season.

While Leeds battle to remain in the top flight, Piroe has made just two league starts, the most recent of which came in a 5-0 loss at Premier League leaders and title favourites Arsenal back in August.

Family ties

Piroe isn’t the only uncapped Dutch-born star who has made the cut for Ten Cate’s side this month.

LASK’s Melayro Bogarde, the nephew of former Chelsea man Winston Bogarde and brother of Aston Villa man Lamare Bogarde, has also been included for their World Cup playoff clash.

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Winston is assistant to Ten Cate for the Suriname national team, and is part of a backroom staff that includes Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Clarence Seedorf and former Indonesia head coach Patrick Kluivert.

Suriname’s World Cup path

Suriname finished second in their qualifying group as they were pipped to top spot by Panama, though Thomas Christiansen’s side were subsequently drawn alongside England, Croatia and Ghana in Group L this summer.

And if they beat Bolivia next week, then Suriname will face off against Iraq at the end of March.

However, the winner of the inter-continental playoff will be drawn into arguably the toughest group at the World Cup.

France, Norway and Senegal, who were stripped of their AFCON title earlier this week, await the victor of this playoff.