World Cup 2026 Injury List: Every Player Out or in Doubt

Updated June 7, 2026.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, and with all 48 nations having locked their final 26-player squads on June 1, the World Cup 2026 injury list has now taken its near-final shape. The frantic race against the clock that defined the spring is largely over. Coaches have made their calls, replacements have been named, and the picture of who travels to North America and who watches from home is clear.

Several of the biggest names in world football are confirmed absentees. A smaller group made their squads but carry injuries into the tournament and may sit out the opening matches. A third group, who looked doubtful only weeks ago, recovered in time and were named.

This article sorts the full picture into those three groups, explains how the squad rules still allow late replacements, and addresses the stars who are missing for reasons that have nothing to do with injury.

The information is drawn from club statements, national federation announcements, and reporting from Reuters, ESPN, Sky Sports, Goal, Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and other major outlets as of June 7, 2026.

Quick Facts

Tournament dates	June 11 to July 19, 2026
Opening match	Mexico vs South Africa, Mexico City, June 11
Final squad deadline	June 1, 2026 (now passed)
Squad size	26 players, minimum three goalkeepers
All 48 team rosters	See the full rosters
Late replacements allowed	Yes, up to 24 hours before a team’s first match
Most affected nation	Brazil
Headline confirmed absentees	Rodrygo, Hugo Ekitike, Xavi Simons, Serge Gnabry, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kaoru Mitoma
Named but managing injury	Neymar, Lamine Yamal, Chris Richards, Alphonso Davies
Information current as of	June 7, 2026

World Cup 2026 Injury List: Confirmed Absentees

The following players will not feature at the tournament. Each was either ruled out by injury or left off a final squad because of a fitness problem. Their recovery timelines fall outside the tournament window of June 11 to July 19.

Rodrygo (Brazil)

The Real Madrid forward ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during a La Liga match against Getafe on March 2. Recovery is expected to take seven to nine months. Rodrygo had been a central figure in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s attacking plans and was Brazil’s top scorer during qualifying.

Eder Militao (Brazil)

The Real Madrid defender underwent surgery in late April for a rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg, a recurrence of a hamstring problem first sustained in December. The procedure was performed in Finland with a five-month recovery timeline that runs into October.

Estevao (Brazil)

The 19-year-old Chelsea winger suffered a grade-four hamstring injury on April 18 against Manchester United and was left off Ancelotti’s final squad. He had been the top scorer under Ancelotti during the buildup, which makes his absence one of the most significant losses on the entire list.

Xavi Simons (Netherlands)

The Tottenham playmaker ruptured the ACL in his right knee during a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 25. Simons, 23, was a key creator for coach Ronald Koeman, and the Netherlands lose one of their few game-breaking attackers.

Hugo Ekitike (France)

The Liverpool striker ruptured his Achilles tendon in April during a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain. The recovery timeline extends into late 2026, ruling him out despite a breakthrough debut season that had cemented his place in Didier Deschamps’ plans.

Serge Gnabry (Germany)

The Bayern Munich forward suffered a torn adductor in his right thigh that ended his Bundesliga season. After a strong campaign operating behind Harry Kane, Gnabry misses a major tournament through injury for the second time in his career.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany)

Once expected to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, ter Stegen was not selected at all. After back surgery and a loan move to Girona, he managed only two appearances before a further muscle injury. Coach Julian Nagelsmann instead recalled Manuel Neuer from international retirement, with Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel also in the goalkeeping group.

Lennart Karl (Germany)

The 18-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder, one of the youngest players named in any squad, tore a muscle in his thigh during training on June 5. The German Football Association ruled him out and called up RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouedraogo, 20, as his replacement just days before the tournament.

Patrick Agyemang (United States)

The co-host striker ruptured his Achilles tendon in April while playing for Derby County. Agyemang had scored against Portugal in a March friendly, and his absence thins an already shallow forward pool for coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Jarrad Branthwaite (England)

The Everton defender suffered a hamstring injury in the Merseyside derby in late April, with reports indicating a recovery of around two months. It capped a season already disrupted by earlier hamstring surgery.

Jack Grealish (England)

The Manchester City attacker, on loan at Everton, required surgery on a season-ending foot issue and was unavailable for selection.

Boubacar Kamara (France)

The Aston Villa midfielder was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, a notable loss given France’s relative shortage of midfield depth.

Fermin Lopez (Spain)

The 23-year-old Barcelona midfielder fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a La Liga win over Real Betis and required surgery. Coach Luis de la Fuente had been expected to build part of his midfield around him, making the late blow a genuine setback for the Euro 2024 champions.

Samu Aghehowa (Spain)

The young striker suffered an ACL tear in February that ended his season and any hope of a squad place.

Luis Angel Malagon (Mexico)

The Club America goalkeeper ruptured his Achilles tendon, ruling the co-hosts’ first-choice keeper out. The injury opened the door for 40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa, who was recalled for a record-extending sixth World Cup.

Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands)

The Manchester United defender was ruled out after undergoing back surgery, ending a season that had kept him sidelined since late November. He confirmed on social media that surgery was the only remaining option and that he would miss the tournament. The Netherlands also lost defender Stefan de Vrij and midfielder Jerdy Schouten to injury.

Valentin Carboni, Joaquin Panichelli and Juan Foyth (Argentina)

The defending champions lost three squad candidates to serious injuries. Carboni and Panichelli sustained knee injuries that ended their hopes, and Foyth was also ruled out after surgery, weakening Lionel Scaloni’s defensive depth.

Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina)

The Marseille captain was a late casualty. Having been named in Scaloni’s final 26, Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg during a training session in Argentina’s Texas camp. The Argentine Football Association confirmed on June 6 that he would play no part in the tournament, with the coaching staff declining to risk him. Scaloni must name a replacement from the preliminary list before Argentina’s opener against Algeria on June 16.

Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu (Ghana)

Ghana confirmed both players are dealing with long-term injuries. The double absence is damaging given Ghana’s Group L assignment alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.

Takumi Minamino (Japan)

The AS Monaco forward was ruled out after rupturing his ACL in December, removing an experienced option from Japan’s attack.

Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)

In a major blow, the Brighton winger was left off Japan’s squad after suffering a hamstring injury in a Premier League match against Wolves in May. Coach Hajime Moriyasu said the medical team judged that he could not regain fitness during the tournament. Mitoma had scored the winner in Japan’s March friendly victory over England.

Dejan Kulusevski (Sweden)

The Tottenham forward missed the entire 2025-26 season with a serious knee injury and was not selected by coach Graham Potter. Sweden, who qualified through the European playoffs on the goals of Viktor Gyokeres, travel without one of their most creative options.

Billy Gilmour (Scotland)

The Napoli midfielder suffered a knee injury in a pre-tournament friendly against Curacao at Hampden Park and was forced to withdraw from Steve Clarke’s squad, a setback for Scotland on their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Marcelo Flores (Canada)

The Tigres winger, who had switched his international allegiance from Mexico and earned a place in Canada’s 26, tore his ACL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final on May 30 and was ruled out for the co-hosts.

England, by contrast, lost Levi Colwill to the grey area between injury and selection. The Chelsea defender returned from an anterior cruciate ligament tear too late in the season to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s final squad.

Players Who Made the Squad but Are Managing Injuries

This group was named in final squads despite recent or ongoing injuries. Some may miss the opening matches while their fitness is managed.

Neymar (Brazil)

The 34-year-old Santos forward was included in Ancelotti’s squad but suffered a grade-two calf injury and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. That places his availability for Brazil’s opener against Morocco on June 13 in doubt, though he should be available later in the group stage.

Lamine Yamal (Spain)

The 18-year-old Barcelona forward was named despite a hamstring injury sustained in April. De la Fuente has indicated Yamal may miss the opener against Cape Verde on June 15 but is expected back during the group stage. Teammate Nico Williams was also included while managing a late-season knock.

Chris Richards (United States)

The Crystal Palace centre-back, regarded as one of the co-hosts’ most important defenders, injured his ankle on May 17 and has not played since. He was named to the 26 and continues rehabilitation, but his fitness for the early matches remains uncertain. Cameron Carter-Vickers, listed as a doubt earlier in the spring, did not make the final squad.

Alphonso Davies (Canada)

The Canada captain was included by coach Jesse Marsch despite a hamstring injury and is managing his fitness ahead of the co-hosts’ campaign.

Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Recalled from international retirement at 40 to address the goalkeeping gap left by ter Stegen, Neuer carried a minor calf issue into the buildup and sat out a pre-tournament friendly against the United States as a precaution.

Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez was also named while carrying a fitness concern that the coaching staff continue to monitor.

Players Who Recovered in Time

Each of the following looked doubtful earlier in the spring but recovered, was declared fit, and was named in a final squad.

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt): Recovered from a hamstring tear and will captain Egypt, who open against Belgium on June 15.
• Kylian Mbappe (France): Recovered from a muscle injury and leads the French attack.
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Recovered from a hamstring tear sustained in the Champions League and captains Morocco, who face Brazil on June 13.
• Cristian Romero (Argentina): Fully recovered from a medial collateral ligament sprain and back in full training with the holders.
• Wataru Endo (Japan): Recovered from an ankle injury and named Japan captain.
• Josko Gvardiol (Croatia): Returned after recovering from surgery on a broken shinbone.
• Luka Modric (Croatia): Recovered from a facial fracture and captains Croatia, now playing for AC Milan, at a record-equalling sixth World Cup.
• Mikel Merino (Spain): Recovered from a foot problem that had sidelined him since January.
• Matheus Cunha (Brazil): Returned to fitness and is among the frontrunners to lead the Brazil attack.
• Luca Zidane (Algeria): Recovered from a facial injury and is Algeria’s first-choice goalkeeper for their opener against Argentina.
• Memphis Depay and Justin Kluivert (Netherlands): Both recovered from injuries to make Koeman’s squad.
• Kai Havertz (Germany): Recovered to take his place in Germany’s frontline.
• Arda Guler (Turkey): Fully fit and the focal point of Turkey’s midfield on their return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
• Raphinha (Brazil): Fit and in strong form, a vital figure in a depleted Brazil attack.

How the 26-Player Squad Rules Work

FIFA required all 48 nations to submit a preliminary list of 35 to 55 players by May 11, then a final list of up to 26 players, including at least three goalkeepers, by June 1. Squads could number between 23 and 26 players, and every one of the 48 nations chose the maximum, producing a total of 1,248 players. That deadline has now passed and the squads are locked.

One important flexibility remains. A coach can still replace an injured player up until 24 hours before the team’s first match, provided both the team doctor and FIFA’s General Medical Officer confirm the injury is severe enough to prevent participation. The replacement is drawn from the nation’s preliminary list. This is the rule that allowed Germany to call up Assan Ouedraogo after Lennart Karl’s training injury on June 5, and that Argentina must now use to replace Leonardo Balerdi.

FIFA confirmed in December 2025 that the 26-player cap would stay for 2026, despite calls from several federations to expand it to 30.

Players Often Confused With Injuries Who Are Simply Not at the Tournament

A large share of search interest around the injury list comes from supporters looking for stars who are absent for reasons unrelated to fitness. The most common cases involve nations that failed to qualify.

• Italy: Lost their qualification playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties on March 31, 2026. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, and Sandro Tonali are all fit but have no tournament to attend. Italy miss a third consecutive World Cup.
• Nigeria: Eliminated by DR Congo, who qualified in their place. Victor Osimhen will not feature.
• Poland: Eliminated by Sweden in a playoff. Robert Lewandowski will not be at the tournament.
• Hungary: Failed to qualify, leaving Dominik Szoboszlai absent.

By contrast, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are both fit and confirmed for the tournament after Norway qualified to Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Iraq.

Which Nations Have the Injuries Hit Hardest

Brazil have absorbed the most damage. Rodrygo, Eder Militao, and Estevao are all out, Matheus Cunha and Raphinha carry the attack after returning to fitness, and Neymar is a doubt for the opener against Morocco at MetLife Stadium on June 13. Ancelotti has been forced into a major reshuffle.

Germany face the heaviest goalkeeping and squad disruption. Ter Stegen and Gnabry are out, Karl was ruled out days before kickoff, and the 40-year-old Neuer returns from retirement while managing a calf issue.

Spain lost Fermin Lopez and Samu Aghehowa to injury and are managing Yamal and Williams in the opening week. Argentina were thinned at the back through Carboni and Foyth and then lost Leonardo Balerdi to a late training injury, though Romero’s recovery softened the blow. France lose Ekitike and Kamara entirely but retain a fit Mbappe.

Among the co-hosts, the United States lose Agyemang and are monitoring Richards, Mexico are without first-choice goalkeeper Malagon and have lost defenders to injury, and Canada lost Marcelo Flores while managing Davies. Tottenham again stand out at club level, having lost Simons (Netherlands) and Kulusevski (Sweden) to long-term injuries, with Kudus (Ghana) also ruled out.

World Cup 2026 Injury List FAQ

The World Cup 2026 injury list is now mostly settled following the June 1 squad lock, though the late ruling out of Lennart Karl and Leonardo Balerdi in the final week shows that change remains possible up to 24 hours before each team’s first match. The confirmed absences of Rodrygo, Ekitike, Simons, Gnabry, ter Stegen, Mitoma, Kulusevski, and others have reshaped the title picture, while Neymar, Yamal, Richards, and Davies head into the tournament carrying injuries that their coaches will manage carefully.

This page will be updated if any late replacements are confirmed once the action begins on June 11.