Canadian defender Scott Kennedy suffers shoulder injury on eve of World Cup

Canada's Scott Kennedy pushes Jamaica's Daniel Green during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on March 27, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

REGENSBURG, Germany — Canadian defender Scott Kennedy has suffered a shoulder injury on the eve of the World Cup.

SSV Jahn Regensburg, Kennedy's German club, said the 25-year-old from Calgary was injured in last Saturday's 3-0 loss to Rostock. Kennedy was forced to leave in the seventh minute.

There was no immediate word on the time frame for Kennedy's return either from his club or Canada Soccer. The 41st-ranked Canadians open World Cup play against No. 2 Belgium on Nov. 23 in Qatar.

Kennedy, an imposing defender at close to 191 centimetres (6'3") tall , has won eight caps for Canada.

SSV Jahn Regensburg (5-6-3) stands ninth in the second-tier Bundesliga 2.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2022.