April 27 (UPI) -- Tottenham Hotspur winger Xavi Simons will not play for the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup due to a torn ACL, Spurs announced Monday.
Spurs said that Simons will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and begin his rehabilitation with the club's medical team. Simons, who sustained the right knee injury in the second half of Spurs' 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday in Wolverhampton, England, said he is "heartbroken."
"They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way," Simons wrote Sunday on Instagram, Facebook and X. "My season has come to an abrupt end and I'm just trying to process it.
"Honestly, I'm heartbroken. None of it makes sense. All I've wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me...along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer...just gone."
Simons totaled five goals and six assists over 41 appearances across all 2025-26 competitions for Spurs (8-16-10), who are in 18th place in the Premier League standings.
"Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends Xavi our love and support," Spurs said. "We will be with him every step of the way."
Spurs, who are in danger of relegation, sit two points behind 17th-place West Ham (9-16-9). Wolves (3-23-8) and Burnley (4-22-8) already confirmed their relegation to the Championship, the second tier of English soccer.
Spurs will battle fifth-place Aston Villa (17-10-7) in another Premier League match at 2 p.m. EDT Sunday in Birmingham, England.
The Netherlands will host Algeria in a pre-World Cup friendly June 3 in Rotterdam. The Dutch will take on Japan in a Group F opener at the 2026 World Cup on June 14 in Arlington, Texas.
"It'll take time to find peace with this, but I'll continue to be the best teammate I can be," Simons said. "I have no doubt that together we'll win this fight.
"I'll walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief, as I count down the days to getting back out there. Be patient with me."