Image Credits: Imago Images
Jordan Henderson will now miss the rest of England’s World Cup campaign after a freak accident on Sunday evening.
The Brentford midfielder had travelled to this tournament as one of the few members of the squad with deep World Cup experience, a senior voice in Thomas Tuchel’s dressing room and a player widely credited with helping glue together the group
The freak nature of the injury only adds to the sense of frustration.
England had just survived a ferocious Mexico fightback in front of a hostile home crowd, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane once again delivering when it mattered most, and Henderson was simply joining in the full‑time celebrations with the substitutes when disaster struck.
The former Liverpool captain suffered a wrist injury while celebrating England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico, after losing his footing and falling over advertising boards, and was taken to hospital for assessment.
James Pearce of the Athletic has now reported that the 36-year-old now requires surgery and will miss the rest of the World Cup:
“Jordan Henderson is set to play no further part in the World Cup as he needs surgery on the freak wrist injury he suffered in England’s last 16 victory over Mexico.”
“The Brentford midfielder landed awkwardly as he slipped while climbing over the advertising hoardings during the celebrations after the thrilling 3-2 win at the Azteca Stadium.”
Henderson joins Reece James – already sidelined with a hamstring injury – on the treatment table.
Meanwhile,England are unable to bring in a replacement for Henderson, meaning Tuchel is almost certain to navigate the rest of the World Cup with a reduced 25-man squad as they prepare for the quarterfinals.
Under tournament regulations, squads are locked in after the official deadline, with changes permitted only up to a certain point before a team’s first game – and usually only in the case of a serious injury that is reported and cleared before that cut-off.
Once a nation has started its campaign, they cannot simply add another player mid‑competition, even if someone suffers a freak setback like Henderson did.
England face Norway in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday, 11 July at the Miami Stadium.