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Matthijs de Ligtās final status for 2026 FIFA World Cup revealed amid injury recovery
TL;DR
Matthijs de Ligt will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after opting for surgery following unsuccessful recovery attempts. His focus is now on regaining his health.
Key points
- Matthijs de Ligt will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- He opted for surgery after unsuccessful recovery attempts
- Focus is now on regaining health
Matthijs de Ligt2026 FIFA World CupNetherlands
Photo by Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Matthijs de Ligt will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finally deciding to undergo surgery.
The Netherlands defender had spent months trying to recover without an operation, but that route did not work.
His latest update confirmed the worst-case outcome for both club and country, with De Ligt now focused on getting healthy again instead of making the tournament.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Matthijs de Ligt confirms World Cup heartbreak after surgery
As Fabrizio Romano shared, De Ligt announced that surgery became unavoidable after a long recovery battle.
āAfter 6 months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left,ā Romano tweeted.
He added, āIām disappointed I couldnāt help the team the last 6 months and obviously missing out on World Cup, but Iām looking forward to doing everything to get back in front of the fans and feeling better again!ā
That statement ended any remaining uncertainty around his World Cup status. De Ligt had been sidelined with a long-standing back injury and had not played for Manchester United since late November.
He had tried rehabilitation and treatment first, but after six months away, the injury still required surgery.
Q&A
Why will Matthijs de Ligt miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Matthijs de Ligt will miss the tournament due to undergoing surgery after months of unsuccessful recovery efforts.
What injury led to Matthijs de Ligt's surgery?
The specific injury has not been detailed, but it required surgery after attempts to recover without it failed.
How does Matthijs de Ligt's absence affect the Netherlands national team?
De Ligt's absence is a significant loss for the Netherlands national team as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
