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Posted on June 11, 2026 12:00 am | Updated on June 10, 2026 9:38 pm Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber will not be able to represent Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Netherlands has officially informed that the right back is unable to get back from his groin injury in due course of time. So, there is no hope of him playing in this upcoming prestigious competition. However, this incident could potentially become a blessing for Arsenal for their next season.
Jurrien Timber is not fit enough to play at 2026 FIFA World Cup
As reported by The Times of India, Timber has been suffering from this injury from the March international break. The Dutchman tried hard to regain his fitness completely. His hardwork made him able for Arsenal in UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.
He was not in the starting eleven and was on the bench. In the 66th minute, he entered the pitch replacing Cristhian Mosquera. Timber played 54 minutes in that match. This was an indication that he was returning to his full fitness and recovered completely.
Club football for Jurrien Timber ended after the Champions League final game. Then he joined the Netherlands national squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But the 24-year-old could not play for Ronald Koeman’s side against Algeria in an international friendly. He was still not at his full fitness and so he could not feature in his nation’s loss to Algeria.
On Monday, the Dutch national team officially communicated that Jurrien Timber will leave the squad. As reported by BBC, Netherlands shared on X, “Jurrien Timber misses the 2026 World Cup.” They have also written that the 24-year-old right back has not recovered enough from his groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner. Therefore it has been decided that the Dutchman will leave the national team’s pre-camp.
Key Statistic:
Jurrien Timber’s stats for Arsenal in the 2025-26 season, according to FotMob:
Competition Appearances Tackles Interceptions
Premier League 30 66 24
FA Cup 2 0 0
EFL Cup 4 7 4
UEFA Champions League 8 14 5
Who will replace Jurrien Timber in the Netherlands squad for the World Cup?
Jurrien Timber has been forced to withdraw himself from the Netherlands’ World Cup squad for his injury. This has caused national team coach, Ronald Koeman to call another Dutch played who will replace the **Gunners**‘ right back. Lutsharel Geertruida has been recalled as his replacement by the coach.
As reported by Yahoo Sports, the RB Leipzig defender who has spent this season at Sunderland on loan will replace Timber. Geertruida will now give competition to Denzel Dumfries and Mats Wieffer to start at the right back position of the Netherlands’ defense. Along with that, he can also be a back-up player for Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke in the central defense.
How this blow for Netherlands is a blessing for Arsenal?
The absence of Jurrien Timber is a huge problem for the Dutch national team. The defender is very versatile who can play as a centre back and a right back. The 24-year-old is heavily disappointed on his exit.
However, this decision will have a different impact on Arsenal, as reported by The Mirror. The Dutchman was already struggling with an injury. A packed World Cup schedule and a long World Cup run will have made the situation worse for Mikel Arteta. But as he has left the squad, now he can fully concentrate on his recovery. The Arsenal boss will get a healthy and sharp football player for his pre-season preparations.
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Subhabrata Pal
Subhabrata Pal is a Junior Football Writer at Six Sports, covering developments across domestic and international football. His work focuses on match reports, player performances, and important updates from major football competitions. Through his contributions at Six Sports, Subhabrata writes football news stories, match-focused coverage, and analytical pieces that highlight team performances, standout players, and key moments shaping the sport.
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