ACL injury ends Xavi Simons’ World Cup 2026 dream with the Netherlands

Dutch midfielder suffers suspected ACL wounded successful his close knee, ending his chances of playing successful the FIFA World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur ‌‌and Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons says his ⁠⁠football play has “come to an abrupt end” aft suffering a superior genu wounded that is acceptable ⁠⁠to regularisation him retired of the FIFA World Cup.

Simons was injured connected Saturday during Tottenham’s 1-0 triumph ⁠⁠at Wolverhampton Wanderers and near the transportation connected a stretcher successful the 63rd minute, with aboriginal reports indicating an wounded to his close ACL.

The 23-year-old was near clutching his close genu successful pain.

“They accidental beingness tin ‌‌be cruel and contiguous it feels that way,” helium said successful an Instagram post.

“My play has travel to an abrupt extremity and I’m conscionable trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken… All I’ve wanted to bash is combat for ⁠⁠my squad and present the quality ⁠⁠to bash that has been snatched distant from me… on with the World Cup. Representing my state this summer… conscionable gone.”

Simons was ⁠⁠expected to beryllium an important subordinate successful Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for ⁠⁠what would person been his 2nd ⁠⁠World Cup aft his debut successful 2022. He has earned 34 caps, astir precocious successful friendlies past month.

The wounded is ‌‌also a large stroke for Spurs during their hard Premier League season, arsenic the North London squad ‌‌are ‌‌18th connected 34 points, 2 points distant from relegation safety.

He joins a growing database of cardinal players who are apt to miss immoderate portion of the upcoming World Cup, which includes Spain and Barcelona prima Lamine Yamal, Liverpool and Egypt guardant Mohamed Salah, and his French teammate Hugo Ekitike.