Sevilla said Tecatito broke his left fibula and ruptured ankle ligaments and will be out for four to five months. The World Cup begins in Qatar on November 20.

The 29-year-old Tecatito was taken to hospital in an ambulance and underwent surgery later Thursday.

Doctors inserted a plate and screws on his fibula and repaired his ankle ligaments.

The club said Tecatito sustained the injury by himself, without colliding with any other player.

"It doesn't look good," Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said. "Unfortunately it's part of soccer and it happened to Jesus."

Mexico play their opening World Cup match on November 22 against Poland in Group C, which also includes Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

The Mexican soccer federation said it would give Tecatito as much time to recover as possible and they hoped the recovery time would be shorter than expected.

Tecatito was a member of Mexico's World Cup squad in 2018 in Russia.

He was expected to enter his second World Cup as a regular starter in the 4-3-3 scheme of Argentine coach Gerard Martino, who will now likely have to find a substitute for the injured player.

Australian Associated Press