Jurriën Timber won’t be going to the World Cup. The 24-year-old Arsenal defender has been ruled out of the Netherlands’ 26-man squad due to a groin injury that simply refused to cooperate with the tournament timeline.

Timber had been named in the provisional squad announced on May 27, but his body had other plans. The Dutch Football Association confirmed his withdrawal around June 9, replacing him with Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida. FIFA rules allow nations to make injury-related substitutions up to 24 hours before their opening match, and the Netherlands used that window here.

A defensive headache at the worst possible time

The defender had recently returned to action for Arsenal, which made his provisional squad selection look reasonable at the time. The groin issue proved too stubborn, and the coaching staff ultimately had to make the call that every manager dreads: pulling a key player days before a major tournament.

Jeremie Frimpong was also left out of the final squad due to injury concerns.

Geertruida, who has been plying his trade at Sunderland, now gets the opportunity of a lifetime. With the Netherlands already thin in certain defensive positions, Geertruida could find himself playing meaningful minutes in a World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The bigger picture for the Dutch squad

Captain Virgil van Dijk will be there after recovering from his own injury. Memphis Depay also makes the squad after bouncing back from a thigh injury. The 2026 World Cup features an expanded 48-team format, which means more games, more rotation, and more demand on squad depth.

The Netherlands finalized their 26-man roster in late May, and like every national team heading into a major tournament, they were essentially holding their breath on a few fitness calls. Timber’s was the one that didn’t break their way. Depay’s did.