Heartbreak for Arsenal star: Injury ends his World Cup dream just 3 days before kick-off
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 09.06.26. | 17:30
A tough blow for the Gunners' defender...
The list of players who won't be able to help their national teams in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup is, sadly, getting longer, and the latest name added to it is Arsenal defender and the Netherlands international Jurrien Timber.
As the Oranje official X account wrote, the 24-year-old "has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner". He left the national team's camp last night after the warm-up match against Uzbekistan, which the Netherlands won 2-1.
Jurriën Timber misses the 2026 World Cup.
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 8, 2026
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. In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the… pic.twitter.com/r6Wu8FRCfP
Their boss, Ronald Koeman, has called up Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida, who is contracted to RB Leipzig, as Timber's replacement, though his absence leaves a significant void on the right side of the Dutch defence.
This way, the Gunners' defender joined a growing list of high-profile players set to miss the World Cup through injury, such as Rodrygo (Brazil), Lennart Karl (Germany), Wesley Franca (Brazil), Billy Gilmour (Scotland), Serge Gnabry (Germany), Hugo Ekitike (France), Estevao (Brazil), Xavi Simons (The Netherlands), Takumi Minamino (Japan), Mohammed Salisu (Ghana), Eder Militao (Brazil), Fermin Lopez (Spain)...
Still, the Timber family will have a representative at the prestigious tournament, as Jurrien's twin brother Quinten is included in the Netherlands squad.