Amsterdam faces a setback as Dutch midfielder Will Schouten will miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup following a significant knee surgery. The PSV Eindhoven player underwent an operation on Sunday after sustaining a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Schouten suffered the injury during a match against FC Utrecht on Saturday, where he twisted his knee in the second half of PSV’s 4-3 victory. The injury was serious enough to require him to be stretchered off the field, leaving fans and teammates concerned about his future participation in international tournaments.
Medical evaluations confirmed the ACL damage necessitated surgery, with an expected recovery period of six to nine months. This timeline casts doubt on Schouten’s availability for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Supporters have expressed their sympathy and wished him a swift recovery, especially given his recent role as a key player for the Netherlands, having appeared in every match during the 2024 European Championship.
In a significant development, other prominent footballers will also miss the 2026 World Cup due to their national teams failing to qualify. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will be absent as Italy did not secure a spot in the tournament. Similarly, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski will not participate since Poland also failed to qualify.
These absences mark a notable shift in the lineup of star players for the upcoming global event, highlighting the challenges teams face in securing their place on football’s biggest stage.
