Goalkeeper ruled out of World Cup 2026 after suffering a broken neck

The slim World Cup hopes of Cesena goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann have been wiped out by a horror injury that prematurely ended his Serie B season.

World Cup 2026 is under two months away and Klinsmann, a former United States youth international who is the starting goalkeeper for the Seahorses, has been ruled out after suffering a fractured spine.

Klinsmann was playing against Palermo in Serie B on Saturday when he was carried off the pitch in a neck brace in the aftermath of a collision with Palermo's Filippo Ranocchia.

Cesena goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann injured in Serie B match

Munich-born Klinsmann, the 29-year-old son of World Cup winner and Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann, has not played for the senior United States team but was regarded by some as an outside bet for inclusion despite Mauricio Pochettino naming four goalkeepers in his latest squad.

Klinsmann is one of a group of uncapped goalkeepers in Pochettino's thinking and was called into the senior international camp in November.

"Unfortunately my season came to an end on Saturday," Klinsmann confirmed on Instagram.

"During the match I suffered a fracture to my spine which will sideline me for a while. I want to thank everyone on the ground and at the hospital here in Palermo, the fans of both Cesena and Palermo for the warm wishes and of course my friends and family who have supported me over the last few days."

The injury was confirmed by Klinsmann's club to be a fracture to the first cervical vertebra, which is the nearest spinal neck bone to the base of the skull. The goalkeeper also suffered a cut to the head.

Cesena sit in the last available promotion play-off spot in Serie B and Klinsmann, who previously played for Hertha BSC, St Gallen and Los Angeles Galaxy, had been an ever-present in goal until his season came to an early conclusion.

The manager tasked with installing an understudy goalkeeper and steering Cesena to what looks like an unlikely promotion to Serie A is former England left-back Ashley Cole.

Cole was appointed to his first managerial role in March, replacing sacked predecessor Michele Mignani until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back, who is ranked at No.2 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League defenders of all time, played 11 times in Serie A after leaving London for Roma in 2014.

Cole has been coaching with Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City and England since bringing his playing career to a close with the Rams in 2019.