ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament; a knee ligament whose rupture typically ends a player's tournament.
Last refreshed: 5 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why do so many players rupture their ACL in the weeks before a World Cup?
Timeline for ACL
Mentioned in: Neymar fit for Brazil v Japan
2026 FIFA World CupCanada to replace Flores by 11 June
2026 FIFA World CupBackground
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments of the knee, connecting the femur to the tibia and providing rotational stability. ACL rupture is one of the most serious injuries in football, typically requiring surgery and 9-12 months of rehabilitation. A ruptured ACL effectively ends a player's tournament and often their season.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Marcelo Flores ruptured his ACL after being named in Canada's squad, forcing the federation to seek a replacement before the 11 June Deadline. Austin FC winger Jayden Nelson was identified as the favoured candidate. ACL injuries before major tournaments are a recurring feature of football calendars, with the high-intensity domestic season ending just weeks before World Cup squads are named.
How long does an ACL injury take to recover from?
Why did Marcelo Flores miss the 2026 World Cup?
