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Cesena goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann’s faint hopes of featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dashed after he sustained a serious injury that ended his Serie B campaign prematurely.

With the 2026 World Cup just under two months away, Klinsmann — a former United States youth international and the first-choice goalkeeper for the Seahorses — has been sidelined after fracturing his spine.

The 29-year-old sustained the injury during Cesena’s Serie B fixture against Palermo on Saturday. He was stretchered off the field wearing a neck brace following a collision with Palermo’s Filippo Ranocchia.

Born in Munich, Klinsmann is the son of legendary World Cup-winning German striker Jurgen Klinsmann. Although he has yet to make an appearance for the senior United States national team, he was seen by some as a potential outsider for selection, even after Mauricio Pochettino included four goalkeepers in his most recent squad.

Klinsmann is among a group of uncapped goalkeepers under Pochettino’s consideration and was previously called up to a senior training camp in November.

Confirming the news of his injury, Klinsmann wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately my season came to an end on Saturday. 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.”

Cesena later confirmed that Klinsmann’s injury was a fracture to the first cervical vertebra — the uppermost bone in the spinal column, located just below the skull. The club also reported that he sustained a cut to his head.

Before his injury, Klinsmann had been an ever-present between the posts for Cesena, who currently occupy the final promotion play-off position in Serie B. The goalkeeper has previously represented Hertha BSC, St Gallen, and Los Angeles Galaxy.

Cesena’s manager Ashley Cole, the former England international, now faces the challenge of finding a replacement goalkeeper and guiding the club toward an unlikely promotion to Serie A.

Cole took over in March following the dismissal of Michele Mignani and will remain in charge until the end of the 2025–26 season. The former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back, ranked No.2 on FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest Premier League defenders of all time, made 11 Serie A appearances for AS Roma after leaving London in 2014.

Since retiring as a player in 2019 with Derby County, Cole has gained coaching experience with Derby, Everton, Birmingham City, and the England national team setup.