Romania U17 defender Ayan Anghel ruled out of World Cup with knee injury

Romania U17 defender Ayan Anghel has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in Qatar after suffering a serious knee injury. Medical examinations confirmed a ligament rupture in his left knee, with a recovery timeline of at least six months. This verdict excludes the 17-year-old from the tournament scheduled for next month.

Anghel sustained the injury while playing for CS Dinamo in a match against CS Popești Leordeni. He had been a regular starter for the club in Liga 2, accumulating 11 appearances in the current season. His absence represents a significant loss for the national team setup.

National team coach Mircea Diaconescu faces a selection challenge as Anghel was the only central defender in the squad drawn from the domestic league. The rest of the defensive options come from foreign academies. Sources close to the player expressed hope for his psychological strength during recovery.

The U17 World Cup in Qatar will take place from 19 November to 13 December 2026. This tournament marks Romania's first-ever participation in the competition. The team has been drawn in Group K, where they will face Mexico, Cameroon and Venezuela.

In addition to Anghel's confirmed absence, forward Răzvan Marincean is also facing fitness issues. Marincean suffered an injury during a Youth League match for Farul against Sheriff Tiraspol. Club reports indicate he will be sidelined for one month, placing his availability for the World Cup in doubt.