Jurrien Timber leaves the Netherlands FIFA World Cup 2026 squad after not recovering in time. File
| Photo Credit: AP
An ongoing injury to Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber was replaced on the Netherlands’ FIFA World Cup 2026 roster by Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida.
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A groin injury suffered in March forced Timber to miss several months of the domestic season. Although the defender played 55 minutes for Arsenal in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30, the Netherlands staff determined he was not fit enough for the World Cup.
“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,” the Dutch team said in a statement Monday (June 8, 2026). “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.”
Timber scored four goals and added seven assists in 44 appearances for Arsenal as the team won the Premier League title and went on to the Champions League and League Cup finals.
After being substituted in the first half of a March 14 victory over Everton, Timber’s only further appearance was the Champions League final. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters before the final that Timber was fit and available to start.
Timber has made 23 appearances for the Netherlands, most recently in November 2025.
Along with his twin brother, Quinten, who plays for Marseille, Jurrien was named to the Dutch squad on May 26, 2026, which they celebrated on Instagram by posting, “We once prayed for moments like this. Now we’re living them together. Thank You, Jesus.”
After their final warm-up game against Uzbekistan on Monday, the Dutch team will head to its base camp in Kansas City, Missouri. The team opens their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Japan in Dallas, then plays Sweden on June 20 in Houston and Tunisia on June 25 in Kansas City.
Published – June 09, 2026 02:28 pm IST
