Canada midfielder Marcelo Flores will miss the upcoming World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for his club side Tigres UNAL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

According to Canada’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch, the 22-year-old from Georgetown, Ontario, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during a match against Toluca on Saturday.Flores went down in the 77th minute of the match and had to leave the field in tears as Tigres ultimately lost in a penalty shootout.Flores had recently been named to Canada’s 26-player World Cup roster on Friday, where he was included among 10 midfielders selected for the squad.Despite this selection, he was not present at Canada’s training camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, the week prior to the injury.Following the diagnosis, Marsch confirmed he spoke with Flores on both Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The coach expressed support for the injured player and told him he would still be welcome to join the national team environment during the tournament once he has undergone surgery and begun recovery.

The injury represents a significant setback for both Flores and the Canadian national team, as he was expected to be part of the midfield rotation for the tournament.Marsch also stated that a replacement for Flores has not yet been decided.

The coaching staff will make a final decision at least 24 hours before Canada opens its World Cup campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.The team now faces the challenge of adjusting its roster composition in the final days before the tournament begins.