SOCCER: Netherlands defender Timber to miss World Cup with groin injury

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after failing to recover from a groin injury, the Dutch Football Association said Monday.

The Dutch FA said the 24-year-old has not made sufficient progress in his rehabilitation to participate in the tournament in a “medically responsible” way.

His absence is a significant setback for the Netherlands ahead of their Group F campaign in North America, where they are set to face Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.

Timber had been managing the injury during the closing stages of Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning season. He still featured for 54 minutes in their UEFA Champions League final defeat on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.

He will be replaced in Ronald Koeman’s squad by Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland.

The change forces a late adjustment to Koeman’s defensive setup just days before the Netherlands open their campaign against Japan in Dallas on Sunday. -Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk and Mohamed Yossry in Cairo, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters