Paraguay’s Gomez exits in tears with knee injury weeks before World Cup

Diego Gomez was forced off in tears in the 21st minute of Brighton‘s 2-2 draw at Tottenham after landing awkwardly on his left leg in an aerial duel.mirror
The 23-year-old Paraguayan, who started Brighton’s last eight matches, will undergo further tests to determine the severity of what appeared to be a knee injury.rotowire
Paraguay open their World Cup campaign against the U.S. on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, with FIFA’s preliminary squad deadline set for May 11.nbcsports

Diego Gomez Leaves Pitch in Tears as World Cup Clock Ticks for Paraguay

Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez was forced off the field in tears during Saturday’s Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, raising alarm bells for Paraguay just 55 days before their World Cup opener against the United States on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.nbcsports

Early Exit at White Hart Lane

Gomez, 23, came down awkwardly on his left leg following an aerial challenge with Spurs defender Destiny Udogie in the first half, leaving him writhing on the turf. Medical staff rushed to attend to the Paraguayan, who was visibly distraught as he limped off around the 21st minute, with Kaoru Mitoma replacing him. The injury appeared to involve his knee, according to RotoWire, and further tests will be needed in the coming days to determine its severity.mirror

Brighton went on to salvage a dramatic 2-2 draw after Georginio Rutter curled home in stoppage time to cancel out Xavi Simons’s 77th-minute strike for Spurs, who remain in the relegation zone.rte

A Blow for Paraguay’s World Cup Hopes

The timing could hardly be worse for Paraguay. Gomez has been one of Brighton’s most consistent performers in 2026, starting each of the club’s last eight matches before Saturday’s setback. He is considered a key creative figure for Paraguay as they prepare for a difficult Group D that also includes Australia and Turkiye.rotowire

Paraguay’s opener against the USMNT at SoFi Stadium is scheduled for June 12 at 9 p.m. ET, leaving a narrow window for recovery depending on the diagnosis. FIFA’s deadline for preliminary squad submissions is May 11.nbcsports

Growing Injury List Clouds the Tournament

Gomez joins a lengthening roster of players facing races against time before the World Cup kicks off across North America this summer. Argentina have been hit by concerns over Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez, and Lautaro Martinez in recent weeks. Brazil lost Rodrygo to a torn ACL in March, while England could be without Levi Colwill and Jack Grealish. Japan may also be missing Takumi Minamino and Wataru Endo.si

For now, Brighton and Paraguay can only wait on test results and hope that what looked like a devastating scene on Saturday turns out to be something far less severe.