Livramento undergoes surgery after calf injury ends his World Cup 2026 campaign

Tino Livramento has undergone surgery after being ruled out of England’s World Cup squad, Newcastle United confirmed on Tuesday, with the 23-year-old full-back now targeting a return during pre-season.

Livramento sustained a calf injury just days before England’s opening group-stage match against Croatia, forcing him out of Thomas Tuchel’s plans at the tournament. He was replaced in the squad by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah and returned to Newcastle for treatment.

A club statement read: “Newcastle United can confirm that Tino Livramento has successfully undergone a minor surgical procedure. The defender, who returned from World Cup duty with an injury, is expected to return during pre-season.”

The timing is particularly cruel for Livramento, who had only recently recovered from a thigh injury that cut short his 2025-26 club season. He had managed just one appearance — as a substitute in England’s friendly against New Zealand on 6 June — before the calf problem struck.

His absence compounds an already difficult situation at full-back for Tuchel. Reece James is also sidelined with a hamstring issue, leaving England stretched for options heading into their round of 32 clash with DR Congo. Djed Spence and Nico O’Reilly are expected to fill the full-back roles, while Jarell Quansah provided cover at right-back in England’s 2-0 group-stage win over Panama — though he picked up a twisted ankle in that match and is a doubt for the knockout tie.

England’s wider World Cup picture has been sharpened by the early exits of Germany and the Netherlands on Monday, both eliminated on penalties — Germany by Paraguay and the Netherlands by Morocco. Should Tuchel’s side progress past DR Congo, they could face co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador in the last 16, with a potential quarter-final meeting with Brazil — who came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 — on the horizon.

The two nations last met at that stage in 2002, when Rivaldo and Ronaldinho overturned Michael Owen’s opener to send Brazil through 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy.