The Netherlands national football team has officially announced that Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber has been ruled out of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. The 24-year-old full-back failed to recover in time from a severe groin injury.
Timber’s last competitive appearance was as a substitute during Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Following medical assessments, it was decided that he will leave the Dutch pre-camp in New York immediately after Monday’s final warm-up friendly against Uzbekistan.
To fill the defensive void, Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has swiftly called up Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida as a replacement.
Official Statement from the Dutch FA
The Dutch Football Association released an official statement on Monday detailing the medical reasons behind Timber’s exclusion:
“The 24-year-old defender has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner.”
“In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-camp in New York after the game against Uzbekistan.”
The Netherlands’ 2026 World Cup Schedule
The Oranje are set to kick off their global tournament campaign in June. Here is the schedule for their group stage fixtures:
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June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan (World Cup Opener)
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Matchday 2: Netherlands vs. Sweden
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Matchday 3: Netherlands vs. Tunisia
