Netherlands Replace Injured Jurrien Timber with Lutsharel Geertruida in 2026 World Cup Squad

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the Netherlands squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after failing to recover sufficiently from a groin injury. The Royal Dutch Football Association stated that Timber had not recovered in a medically responsible manner. Timber had been sidelined since mid-March with the groin problem.

He appeared in the second half of the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May, entering as a 66th-minute substitute against Paris St-Germain. That match marked his first appearance since a 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March. Mikel Arteta said before the final that Timber was fit to play.

The KNVB announced that Timber will leave the national team's pre-camp in New York after the friendly against Uzbekistan. Timber has been capped 23 times by the Netherlands and made his first international appearance in June 2021. Lutsharel Geertruida, 25, has been called up to replace Timber.

Geertruida spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig. Ronald Koeman selected the defender for the squad. The Netherlands open their Group F campaign against Japan on 14 June, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia.

Brazil reported that Neymar is making good progress in his recovery from a calf injury. The Brazilian Football Confederation said a scan on Monday showed progress within expected parameters and that Neymar will continue the planned recovery process. Neymar missed Brazil's warm-up friendlies against Panama and Egypt.

He faces a race to be fit for their opening group game against Morocco on 13 June. Scans last month showed Neymar had a grade-two muscle tear. The 34-year-old returned to his first professional club Santos in early 2025 after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while playing for Brazil against Uruguay in October 2023.

Neymar has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil and has featured in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.