The Netherlands national team has confirmed that Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico after failing to fully recover from a groin injury. The 24-year-old sustained the setback during Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Everton in March and missed a significant part of the season's finale.
Timber made his return in the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. He played 54 minutes as the match ended 1-1 before PSG won 4-3 on penalties to retain the title. Despite his limited game time, he was initially included in Ronald Koeman's 26-man squad for the tournament.
Official Confirmation of Withdrawal
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has now announced that Timber will not participate in the World Cup. According to BBC, the Arsenal defender has not recovered sufficiently to compete safely at the highest level. A KNVB statement read: "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 friendly match against Uzbekistan."
Timber has earned 23 caps for the Netherlands since his senior debut in June 2021 and was expected to play a key role in Koeman's defensive plans.
Fan Reactions
Fans expressed disappointment on social media following the news. @getKennethed22 said: "This is very sad. Every player who has given it their all in club football deserves to be at the World Cup. Well, as an Arsenal fan, I don't really know how I'm feeling right now. Good for him to recover well for club football."
@saabmarvel wrote: "Timber missing the World Cup is a huge blow for him, for the Netherlands, and for everyone who was eager to see him shine." @Asibuahgh added: "So sad for the Dutch team would have been a solid one at the back for them."
Replacement Named
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has called up Lutsharel Geertruida as Timber's replacement, per talkSPORT. The 25-year-old spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, making 30 appearances across all competitions, including 20 starts. However, reports suggest Sunderland are unlikely to make the move permanent.
The Dutch will begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia in Group F.
In related news, Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is also set to miss the World Cup due to injury, dealing a blow to Spain's preparations as they face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H.
