Jurrien Timber: Netherlands confirm huge injury blow as Arsenal star ruled out of World Cup

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·8 de junio de 2026

Jurrien Timber: Netherlands confirm huge injury blow as Arsenal star ruled out of World Cup

Dutchman missed much of the Premier League run-in

Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the World Cup with a groin injury, the Dutch national team has confirmed.

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The Arsenal right-back missed much of Premier League run-in through injury as the Gunners clinched the title for the first time since 2004.

He returned off the bench late in the Champions League final, though, replacing Cristhian Mosquera in the 66th minute. He did not take a penalty as Arsenal were beaten in a shootout.

Timber was initially named to Ronald Koeman’s World Cup squad despite his ongoing injury woes, but he has now been sent home after it was deemed he had not sufficiently recovered from his groin problem to play a ‘medically responsible’ role at the tournament.

A national team statement read: “Jurriën Timber misses the 2026 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.

Ruled out: Jurrien Timber

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“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.

“We’re all with you, Jurrien.”

Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida has been called up in place of Timber, who has 23 caps for Der Oranje.

The news of Timber’s dismissal from the Netherlands camp was confirmed shortly after team news was released for Monday night’s warm-up friendly against Uzbekistan, which will be staged in New York.

Speaking on Monday, Koeman explained that Timber had impressed him when fit, but revealed that he had not been able to train with his Netherlands team-mates regularly since joining up with the squad.

He said: “When he trains and is fully available, he makes a good impression. That has not been every day.”

The Netherlands have been drawn into a tricky World Cup group. They face Japan in their tournament opener, before then coming up against Graham Potter’s rejuvenated Sweden and Tunisia.