In a decision that has sent ripples through the football world, Sweden manager Graham Potter has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski will miss this summer's World Cup—a tough but necessary call for both player and team.

The 26-year-old playmaker, who has been sidelined for 12 months with a persistent right patella injury, was officially left out of Sweden's squad on Tuesday. Despite showing "progress" in his recovery, Potter made it clear that the tournament comes too soon for Kulusevski, ending what had been an unlikely comeback bid.

Kulusevski had undergone a second procedure on the troublesome knee back in March, and in an optimistic update at the time, declared his "knee is great now." He had set his sights on a dramatic return at the World Cup, but those hopes were dashed this week as Potter prioritized long-term health over short-term glory.

"With Dejan, again just a very, very difficult decision," Potter admitted. "I think we have to think about what is right for the team, that's important, but also Dejan is in a place where he has had a long fight and he is making progress. I think it's important now that this time he can really focus on getting himself ready for the start of the season."

The Sweden boss emphasized that the priority is for Kulusevski to "hit the ground running" for Tottenham in the upcoming campaign. "The aim for him would be to start the next season with Spurs, get back on the pitch, and do the thing he loves."

Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi had already cast doubt on Kulusevski's World Cup involvement last week, revealing that the midfielder was due back at the club this month to continue his rehabilitation. Potter acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision, noting that ending a player's World Cup dream is never easy.

"Sometimes you have to take a decision of what does this look like. What is the impact for the player? What is the impact for the team?" Potter explained. "It just felt in my stomach it was the right thing for us and for him. But of course, it's tough to see that because he wants to be there and he wants to play. He is a professional person and he accepts it, but these things don't come along very often. It's a dream, and you're ending a dream—which is not a nice thing, believe me."

For now, the focus shifts to recovery and preparation. With a full preseason ahead, Kulusevski will be aiming to return stronger than ever—and when he does, both Tottenham and Sweden will be ready to welcome him back.