Canadian midfielder Marcelo Flores has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while playing for Tigres UANL.
The 22-year-old sustained the injury during Saturday's Concacaf Champions Cup final, collapsing without contact in the 77th minute. Flores immediately grabbed his right leg and left the field in tears, raising fears of a serious setback.
Those fears were confirmed on Sunday when Flores revealed the diagnosis on social media.
“My ACL is gone,” Flores wrote. “I wanted to say thank you to everyone and all the messages. I haven't been on my phone or checked messages, but I promise to get around to everyone and I really appreciate the concerns. I'll be back stronger.”
The news comes as a major blow for both Flores and the Canadian national team ahead of the World Cup. Head coach Jesse Marsch admitted the squad was deeply affected by the setback.
“We’re devastated,” Marsch told reporters on Sunday.
Just two days earlier, Marsch had included Flores in Canada's 26-man World Cup squad, which also features star winger Alphonso Davies, who is continuing his recovery and working toward full fitness.
Born in Canada to a Mexican father, Flores was eligible to represent either nation internationally. After previously featuring for Mexico at youth level, he officially switched his allegiance to Canada earlier this year and went on to earn appearances against Iceland and Tunisia.
Canada will face Uzbekistan in a friendly match in Edmonton on Monday before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
