Matthijs de Ligt Undergoes Back Surgery, Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has undergone back surgery and will miss the 2026 World Cup, ending his recovery hopes after nearly six months sidelined since November.
Matthijs de Ligt, the defensive linchpin for Manchester United's "Red Devils" in the English Premier League, has been definitively ruled out of the 2026 World Cup following surgery to treat a chronic back injury that has proven far more serious than anticipated.
De Ligt has been absent from United's lineup since the Crystal Palace match on November 30, 2025. At that time, manager Ruben Amorim suggested the Dutch international would return within a week. However, his recovery did not progress as quickly as predicted. Even current manager Michael Carrick initially indicated Manchester United had not considered surgery as an option, but recent attempts by de Ligt to resume training and running have yielded poor results.
De Ligt revealed through Instagram: "After 6 months of rehabilitation to return to playing, we've found that surgery is the only remaining option. I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to help the team for so long, and now I'll have to miss the World Cup as well."
