Canada's Marcelo Flores has confirmed that he will miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup due to a knee injury. The 22-year-old winger from Georgetown, Ontario, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee while playing for his Mexican club Tigres UNAL during the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Saturday. Canadian national team head coach Jesse Marsch provided the update, stating that Flores went down in the 77th minute of the match against Toluca and left the field in tears after the game ended in a shootout loss.

Coach and Teammates Express Support

In a press conference on Sunday, Marsch expressed his devastation over Flores's injury. "Obviously, we’re devastated for him," he said, adding that he had spoken with Flores both Saturday night and Sunday morning. "Our hearts are with him. He’s in good spirits. He’s already focused on moving forward and getting himself healthy for the future."

Vice captain Stephen Eustáquio also shared his sentiments, noting the impact of Flores's absence. "He was very important for us, as a person as well as a player," Eustáquio said, reflecting on the moment the team witnessed Flores's injury during dinner while watching the match.

Impact on Canada's World Cup Roster

Flores, who has made only two appearances for the national team after switching allegiance from Mexico in November, was included in Canada's 26-player World Cup roster announced last week. His injury adds to a series of setbacks for the Canadian squad ahead of the tournament. However, many injured players, including captain Alphonso Davies, are expected to return. Davies, who missed last week's training camp due to a hamstring injury, is anticipated to join the team in Edmonton for a friendly against Uzbekistan on Monday.

Marsch has indicated that while Davies will participate in the World Cup, it is "unlikely" he will be ready for Canada's opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto. World Cup regulations allow for the replacement of injured players on the roster up to 24 hours before the first game, and Marsch has yet to decide who will fill Flores's spot.