West Ham's Tomas Soucek suffers horror injury blow in World Cup nightmare

View Image

Tomas Soucek appeared to suffer a serious knee injury during the Czech Republic's 3-0 defeat to World Cup hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. The incident unfolded as Soucek attempted to close down record‑breaking Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

The midfielder collapsed in agony after seemingly rolling his ankle beneath him, prompting players to rush to his aid. Referee Yael Falcon Perez immediately halted play as medical staff sprinted onto the pitch.

Soucek, 31, eventually managed to hobble off for further assessment before being carried away on a stretcher from the sideline. The defeat also confirmed the Czech Republic's exit from the tournament, finishing bottom of Group A with just one point.

Attention now turns to the midfielder, a key figure for West Ham . A potential lengthy spell on the sidelines would be a major blow to the London club's push for Premier League promotion.

Soucek endured a difficult season at the London Stadium, with West Ham relegated to the Championship on the final day while Tottenham survived the drop. It was the first time in 15 years the Hammers had been unable to escape trouble, having circled the drain for much of the campaign, and their fate was sealed despite a 3-0 win over Leeds.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side needed to beat Leeds and for Spurs to lose against Everton , but that never materialised, with Joao Palhinha's scrappy rebound from a corner proving the decisive goal.

Despite being under contract until the summer of 2027, speculation continues to swirl around his long‑term future. He was reluctant to discuss the situation before the World Cup when questioned ahead of the Czech Republic's friendly against Guatemala earlier this month.

"I'm sorry, but now I’m fully focused on the World Cup because we’re here with the boys," Soucek said, via Livesport . "We're playing big games at the World Cup, it’s been our dream for several years, and now we’re here.

"What will happen at the club will happen later, after some vacation. Now I’m fully prepared for the Czech national team. I put what happened last season aside, and I’m 100 percent dedicated to the national team. Now I have a month to clear my head."

There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Mirror Sport will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible.