play Live Sign upShow navigation menuplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|World Cup 2026ACL injury ends Xavi Simons’ World Cup 2026 dream with NetherlandsDutch midfielder suffers suspected ACL injury in his right knee, ending his chances of playing in the FIFA World Cup.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoXavi Simons will miss the World Cup for the Netherlands and the rest of the Premier League season for Tottenham Hotspur [Darren Staples/AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and AFPPublished On 27 Apr 202627 Apr 2026Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons says his football season has “come to an abrupt end” after suffering a serious knee injury that is set to rule him out of the FIFA World Cup.
Simons was injured on Saturday during Tottenham’s 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers and left the pitch on a stretcher in the 63rd minute, with early reports indicating an injury to his right ACL.
The 23-year-old was left clutching his right knee in pain.
“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” he said in an Instagram post.
“My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken… All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer… just gone.”
Simons was expected to be a key figure in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for what would have been his second World Cup after his debut in 2022. He has earned 34 caps, most recently featuring in friendlies in March.
The injury is also a major blow for Tottenham during a difficult Premier League season, as the North London team sit 18th on 34 points, two points away from safety.
He joins a growing list of key players who are likely to miss some part of the upcoming World Cup, which includes Spain and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, and his French teammate Hugo Ekitike.
