World Cup 2026: Jurrien Timber ruled out of Netherlands squad as Brazil’s Neymar makes progress in recovery
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign after failing to recover sufficiently from a groin injury. The Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-camp in New York after the friendly against Uzbekistan, with Lutsharel Geertruida called up as his replacement.
Timber, 24, had been sidelined since the middle of March with the groin problem, but he returned to action in the second half of the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May. He came on as a 66th-minute substitute against Paris St-Germain, making his first appearance since Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March. Before the final against PSG, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta said Timber was fit to play, but the Netherlands have now decided he is not ready to participate in the tournament in a medically responsible way.
The KNVB said the decision was made in consultation with medical staff after assessing Timber’s condition. The defender has earned 23 caps for the Netherlands since making his senior international debut in June 2021.
Geertruida, 25, has been brought into Ronald Koeman’s squad to fill the gap left by Timber’s withdrawal. Koeman’s side will continue their World Cup preparations without the Arsenal defender as they target a strong start in Group F. The Netherlands open their campaign against Japan on 14 June, before taking on Sweden and Tunisia in their remaining group matches.
Timber’s absence is a setback for both club and country, given his importance to the Netherlands’ defensive options and his recent return to fitness. His brief appearance in the Champions League final raised hopes that he would be available for the tournament, but the medical team’s latest assessment has ended those plans.
The Netherlands will now move forward with Geertruida in the squad as they prepare for a challenging group stage. With matches against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia, Koeman’s team will be looking to build momentum quickly and avoid further fitness concerns as the tournament gets underway.
