World Cup 2026 | Matthijs de Ligt goes under the knife and will miss the tournament for the Netherlands

Panama's TVN reports a significant blow to the Dutch national team's World Cup aspirations with the news of Matthijs de Ligt's surgery. The Manchester United defender, a key player for the Netherlands, will be sidelined for the tournament scheduled to begin next month in North America.

The 26-year-old, who has earned 52 caps for his country, underwent a successful back operation. His club confirmed that surgery was deemed the best course of action to address a chronic back injury that has kept him out of action since November. This unfortunate turn of events means his return to the pitch won't occur until the start of the next club season, ruling him out of contention for the World Cup.

This news reverberates beyond just the Dutch squad, impacting the global football landscape. De Ligt's absence is a major talking point, especially considering his strong start to the season with Manchester United, where he featured in the first 13 Premier League matches before his injury. While the article mentions other World Cup-related news concerning Mexico's Ochoa, Colombia's James Rodríguez, and Belgium's reliance on Lukaku, the focus remains on the significant void left by De Ligt's unavailability for the Netherlands.