Marcelo Flores will not suit up for Canada for the upcoming FIFA World Cup after announcing on social media he suffered an ACL injury during Saturday’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
“Sorry I haven’t gotten back to anyone yet, really tough times, my ACL is gone,” Flores wrote on Sunday. “I just wanted to say thank you to everyone and all the messages, I haven’t been on my phone of checked messages but I promise to get around to everyone and I really appreciate the concern. I’ll be back stronger.”
Marcelo Flores posts on IG that he's torn his ACL. So heartbreaking @TSN_Sports @TSNSoccer pic.twitter.com/uglzzCt9vZ
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) May 31, 2026
Canada coach Jesse Marsch said Flores ruptured his ACL and confirmed he is out of the World Cup.
Marsch did not name a replacement for Flores on Sunday, but noted Jayden Nelson, Daniel Jebbison and Junior Hoilett as possibilities.
Jesse Marsch Marcelo Flores has ruptured his ACL. Marsch has invited Flores to join and be around the team but Flores is now out of the World Cup. Marsch will not name Flores's replacement, but talked about Jebbison, Nelson, and Hoilett. @TSN_Sports @TSNSoccer
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) May 31, 2026
The injury occurred when Flores, who was named to Canada’s official FIFA World Cup roster on Friday, was attempting to elude an opposing defender when he suddenly fell to the pitch in pain, grabbing his knee. He needed help from teammates to get off the field and into the dressing room.
Flores was playing for his club team, Tigres UANL of Mexico’s Liga MX.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder/winger was born in Canada, but initially played for Mexico before joining Canada’s national team earlier this year.
Flores has four goals over 27 appearances in Liga MX this season, also playing two games for Canada in 2026.
Marsch’s side has dealt with a slew of significant injuries leading up to the FIFA World Cup, including star Alphonso Davies (hamstring), whose status for Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 is still up in the air.
Canada will play friendlies against Uzbekistan on Monday and Ireland on Friday, their last two games before the World Cup.
