World Cup 2026 — April 27: Xavi Simons ACL, Militão OUT, Romero Race & FIFA Prize Fund
World Cup Central's April 27 bulletin: Xavi Simons ruptures his ACL at Tottenham — Netherlands star is OUT of the 2026 World Cup. Éder Militão is now definitively confirmed out (surgery required, scar tissue), a crushing blow for Brazil. Cristian Romero's knee injury puts him in a race against time with just six weeks to Argentina's group-stage opener. Plus — FIFA confirms a record $727M prize fund boost for the 48-nation tournament, set to be ratified at the Vancouver Congress on April 30.
World Cup 2026 — April 27: Xavi Simons ACL, Militão OUT, Romero Race, FIFA Prize Fund
April 27. Three more squad blows. One major financial announcement.
Xavi Simons — ACL Tear, World Cup Over
Xavi Simons has ruptured his ACL at Tottenham — he is OUT of the 2026 World Cup. 1 Netherlands lose a key attacking weapon just forty-six days from kick-off.
Éder Militão — Confirmed Out
Worse — Éder Militão is now CONFIRMED out of the World Cup. 2 Scar tissue from a prior injury reopened; surgery required. Brazil lose their first-choice centre-back.
Cristian Romero — Race Against Time
And in Argentina — Cristian Romero's knee injury 3 is now a race against time. Six weeks to the group-stage opener.
FIFA $727M Prize Fund Boost
Off the pitch — FIFA will boost the 727-million-dollar World Cup prize fund 4 5 after national associations lobbied over rising costs. The Vancouver Congress on Tuesday makes it official.
Simons: out. Militão: confirmed gone. Romero: in a race against time. And money's about to get better for the nations.
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