Overview
- The Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed on Monday that Jurrien Timber will leave the Netherlands’ New York pre‑camp after the friendly with Uzbekistan and will miss the 2026 World Cup for medical reasons.
- Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida, who was on Ronald Koeman’s standby list, has been formally added to the 26‑man squad as Timber’s replacement.
- Timber hurt his groin on March 14, returned briefly as a substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League final on May 30, but Dutch medical staff judged his recovery insufficient for tournament play.
- The loss removes a versatile defensive option from Koeman’s plans and forces the Netherlands to adjust depth at right‑back and centre‑back as they move to base camp in Kansas City before the June 14 opener against Japan.
- Arsenal and the national medical teams will continue Timber’s rehabilitation and will assess his availability for the 2026–27 club season once the World Cup period has passed.