Injuries never come at a good time. But when they happen just before a tournament that only takes place every four years, the drama is even greater. And it’s not just one or two, but many more who won’t be able to celebrate the great football festival in situ.
Here we list some of the most notable footballers, in alphabetical order by their national teams, who will miss the 2026 World Cup.
- Serge Gnabry (Germany): The Bayern Munich winger tore the adductor in his right leg and, as he himself announced at the end of April, will not recover in time for the World Cup.
-Lennart Karl (Germany): The talented 18-year-old midfielder suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh while already in camp with the national team preparing for the World Cup.
- Juan Foyth (Argentina): The Villarreal defender is one of many who have suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in recent months. In his case, it was the left one at the end of January.
- Joaquin Panichelli (Argentina): The Strasbourg striker tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training session with the Argentina squad at the end of March.
- Christoph Baumgartner (Austria): The RB Leipzig midfielder and Austrian star was injured during preparations and will not play at the World Cup. Even so, Austria will not replace him and will have 25 players for the tournament.
- Rodrygo (Brazil): The Real Madrid forward also suffered a cruciate ligament tear, as well as an external meniscus injury in his right knee at the start of March.
- Eder Militao (Brazil): The Real Madrid defender, after overcoming two previous cruciate ligament ruptures, had to undergo surgery again, this time for a torn left biceps femoris tendon.
- Estevao (Brazil): The young Chelsea star was left out of Ancelotti’s squad due to a hamstring tear in his right leg.
- Marcelo Flores (Canada): The midfielder of Mexican descent was injured in May during the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
- Fermin Lopez (Spain): The Barça midfielder, who was in contention for a starting spot at the World Cup, broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot on the final day of La Liga.
- Samu Omorodion (Spain): The Porto striker suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee in February.
- Patrick Agyemang (United States): The Derby County striker ruptured his Achilles tendon at the start of April.
- Hugo Ekitike (France): The Liverpool striker tore his Achilles tendon with a movement inside the box during a Champions League match against PSG in April.
- Mohammed Salisu (Ghana): The Monaco defender, formerly of Valladolid, tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee, like his teammate Minamino, but in January.
- Jack Grealish (England): The Everton attacking midfielder suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in mid-January and underwent surgery in February.
- Takumi Minamino (Japan): The Monaco midfielder suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee in December while playing in the French Cup.
- Luis Malagón (Mexico): The América goalkeeper injured his left Achilles tendon in mid-March.
- Xavi Simons (Netherlands): The Tottenham midfielder is one of the latest to withdraw from the World Cup due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
- Matthijs De Ligt (Netherlands): The Manchester United centre-back, who hadn’t played since November, underwent back surgery on 15 May.
- Jerdy Schouten (Netherlands): The PSV star had to say goodbye to the World Cup very early due to a serious knee injury, the same as his compatriot Simons.
- Jurrien Timber (Netherlands): The Arsenal full-back will ultimately not play at the World Cup despite his efforts to recover from a groin problem.