World Cup 2026 Injury List: Every Player Out or in Doubt
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is underway, having opened on June 11 in Mexico City. With all 48 nations having locked their final 26-player squads on June 1, the World Cup 2026 injury list has settled into its tournament shape. The opening matches have begun, and the picture of who is playing, who is being managed, and who watches from home is now clear.
The complete 48-team rosters are on the squads page, and live results sit on the standings page.
This article sorts the picture into three groups: players who are confirmed out, players who made their squads but are managing injuries, and players who recovered in time.
It also names the late replacements that nations have called up, explains the squad rules, and clears up the stars who are absent 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, and the Associated Press, current as of June 15, 2026.
Quick Facts
| Tournament dates | June 11 to July 19, 2026 |
| Group stage status | Underway, first matches played |
| Opening match result | Mexico 2, South Africa 0 (Mexico City, June 11) |
| Final squad deadline | June 1, 2026 (passed) |
| Squad size | 26 players, minimum three goalkeepers |
| Late replacements allowed | Yes, up to 24 hours before a team’s first match |
| Confirmed late replacements | Marcos Senesi (Argentina), Lutsharel Geertruida (Netherlands), Shuto Machino (Japan), Assan Ouedraogo (Germany) |
| Most affected nations | Brazil, the Netherlands, and Japan |
| Information current as of | June 15, 2026 |
World Cup 2026 Injury List: Confirmed Absentees
The players below will not feature at the tournament. Each was either ruled out by injury or left off a final squad because of a fitness problem, with recovery timelines that fall outside the June 11 to July 19 window.
| Player | Nation | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodrygo | Brazil | ACL and meniscus, right knee | Out for 2026 |
| Eder Militao | Brazil | Biceps femoris tendon (surgery) | Out, around five months |
| Estevao | Brazil | Hamstring | Left off final squad |
| Xavi Simons | Netherlands | ACL, right knee | Out |
| Jurrien Timber | Netherlands | Groin | Out (Geertruida called up) |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Netherlands | Back (surgery) | Out |
| Wataru Endo | Japan | Foot (surgery) | Out, retired (Machino called up) |
| Kaoru Mitoma | Japan | Hamstring | Left off final squad |
| Takumi Minamino | Japan | ACL | Out |
| Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Germany | Back and muscle | Not selected |
| Serge Gnabry | Germany | Torn adductor | Out |
| Lennart Karl | Germany | Thigh muscle | Out (Ouedraogo called up) |
| Hugo Ekitike | France | Ruptured Achilles | Out, nine months or more |
| Boubacar Kamara | France | Knee | Out |
| Fermin Lopez | Spain | Fractured metatarsal (surgery) | Out |
| Samu Aghehowa | Spain | ACL | Out |
| Leonardo Balerdi | Argentina | Soleus muscle | Out (Senesi called up) |
| Valentin Carboni | Argentina | Knee | Out |
| Juan Foyth | Argentina | Knee (surgery) | Out |
| Joaquin Panichelli | Argentina | Knee | Out |
| Johnny Cardoso | United States | Ankle (surgery) | Out |
| Patrick Agyemang | United States | Ruptured Achilles | Out |
| Luis Angel Malagon | Mexico | Ruptured Achilles | Out (Ochoa recalled) |
| Marcelo Flores | Canada | ACL | Out |
| Jarrad Branthwaite | England | Hamstring | Out |
| Jack Grealish | England | Foot (surgery) | Out |
| Mohammed Kudus | Ghana | Long-term injury | Out |
| Mohammed Salisu | Ghana | Long-term injury | Out |
| Dejan Kulusevski | Sweden | Knee | Out |
| Billy Gilmour | Scotland | Knee | Out |
| Lewis Miller | Australia | Achilles (surgery) | Out |
| Christoph Baumgartner | Austria | Pre-tournament injury | Out (not replaced) |
By nation, Brazil, the Netherlands and Japan have lost the most. Brazil are without three forwards and saw Neymar miss the opener, the Netherlands lost five players across defense and midfield, and Japan lost their captain along with two key attackers.
Germany, Argentina and all three co-hosts also feature on the list. England, separately, lost Levi Colwill to the grey area between injury and selection, his anterior cruciate ligament recovery arriving too late for Thomas Tuchel’s final squad.
The headline losses
Rodrygo (Brazil)
The Real Madrid forward ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee after coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 La Liga loss to Getafe in early March. The injury was expected to keep him out for the rest of 2026, removing a central figure from Carlo Ancelotti’s attack.
Hugo Ekitike (France)
The Liverpool striker ruptured his Achilles tendon in April during a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the pitch on a stretcher in the first half. A recovery of at least nine months ruled him out despite a breakthrough season that had cemented his place in Didier Deschamps’ plans.
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 a handful of appearances before a further muscle injury. Coach Julian Nagelsmann recalled the 40-year-old Manuel Neuer from international retirement to lead a goalkeeping group that also includes Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel.
Xavi Simons and Jurrien Timber (Netherlands)
The Netherlands lost two more first-choice players to injury. Tottenham playmaker Simons, 23, ruptured the ACL in his right knee in late April. Arsenal defender Timber, 24, was ruled out with a groin problem he had carried since March, with Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida called up in his place.
Their absences, on top of Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij and Jerdy Schouten, leave Ronald Koeman’s squad badly thinned at the back and in midfield.
Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)
Japan lost the spine of their team. Captain Endo, the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder, was ruled out three days before the opener against the Netherlands and announced his retirement from international football, having failed to recover from a foot injury that required surgery in February.
Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino was called up in his place, and Ko Itakura took over the captaincy. Brighton winger Mitoma was left off the squad after a hamstring injury, and forward Takumi Minamino was already out with an ACL tear, completing a damaging trio of losses for Group F hopefuls Japan.
Players Who Made the Squad but Are Managing Injuries
This group was named in final squads despite recent or ongoing injuries. Several have already missed opening matches while their fitness is managed.
Neymar (Brazil)
The 34-year-old Santos forward was included in Ancelotti’s squad but missed Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on June 13, a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium, because of a calf injury. Ancelotti said Neymar was expected to rejoin training with a view to Brazil’s second group match against Haiti, and confirmed he would not be replaced.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
The 18-year-old Barcelona forward was named for Spain despite a hamstring and hip problem that had kept him out since April. On the eve of Spain’s opener against Cape Verde on June 15, coach Luis de la Fuente described Yamal as fully fit and in “perfect condition,” but indicated he would be eased back in from the bench rather than start. Nico Williams and Victor Munoz were reported to be in a similar position, available but managed.
The remaining managed cases are minor or short-term:
| Player | Nation | Issue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphonso Davies | Canada | Hamstring | Missed opener, targeting Matchday 3 vs Switzerland |
| Bukayo Saka | England | Achilles | Available, minutes monitored |
| Jose Gimenez | Uruguay | Ankle | Nearing return, Uruguay open June 21 |
| Manuel Neuer | Germany | Calf (minor) | Expected fit for the group stage |
| Edson Alvarez | Mexico | Fitness concern | Being monitored |
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. Several have already played in the opening round.
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): Recovered from a hamstring tear and captains Egypt, who open against Belgium on June 15.
- Kylian Mbappe (France): Recovered from a muscle injury and leads the French attack into their opener against Senegal on June 16.
- William Saliba (France): Recovered from a back problem, started France’s final pre-tournament match, and is in line to feature against Senegal.
- Chris Richards (United States): Recovered from an ankle injury and started the co-hosts’ opening 4-1 win over Paraguay, anchoring the defense.
- Julio Enciso (Paraguay): Recovered after a pre-tournament scare and started against the United States.
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Recovered from a hamstring tear and captained Morocco in their 1-1 draw with Brazil on June 13.
- Cristian Romero (Argentina): Recovered from a medial collateral ligament sprain and back in full training.
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): A fitness concern in early June, he returned in the friendly against Iceland and is fit for the title defense.
- Josko Gvardiol (Croatia): Returned after surgery on a broken shinbone.
- Luka Modric (Croatia): Recovered from a facial fracture and captains Croatia, now at AC Milan, at his fifth and likely final World Cup.
- Mikel Merino (Spain): Recovered from a foot problem that had sidelined him since January.
- Jamal Musiala (Germany): Back in contention for Die Mannschaft after a long layoff from a serious injury.
- Matheus Cunha (Brazil): Returned to fitness and is among the frontrunners to lead the Brazil attack.
- Luca Zidane (Algeria): Recovered from a fractured jaw and chin, returned wearing a protective mask, and is Algeria’s first-choice goalkeeper for their opener against Argentina.
- Memphis Depay and Justin Kluivert (Netherlands): Both recovered 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 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. Almost every nation chose the maximum, and the squads are now locked. The full rules sit in FIFA’s tournament regulations.
One 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 prevents participation. This is the rule that allowed Germany to bring in Assan Ouedraogo, Japan to add Shuto Machino, the Netherlands to call up Lutsharel Geertruida, and Argentina to name Marcos Senesi. A separate provision allows an injured goalkeeper to be replaced at any point during the tournament.
Stars Missing Because Their Nation Did Not Qualify
Much of the 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 fit but have no tournament to attend, with Italy missing a third consecutive World Cup.
- Nigeria: Eliminated by DR Congo, who qualified in their place, so Victor Osimhen will not feature.
- Poland: Eliminated by Sweden in a playoff, leaving Robert Lewandowski absent.
- Hungary: Failed to qualify, leaving Dominik Szoboszlai out.
By contrast, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard are both fit and confirmed after Norway qualified to Group I alongside France, Senegal and Iraq.
World Cup 2026 Injury List FAQ
Who are the biggest names on the World Cup 2026 injury list?
The most prominent confirmed absentees are Rodrygo of Brazil, Hugo Ekitike of France, Xavi Simons and Jurrien Timber of the Netherlands, Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Germany, and captain Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma of Japan.
Why is Wataru Endo not at the World Cup 2026?
Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out three days before the tournament after failing to recover from a foot injury that required surgery in February, and he announced his retirement from international football. Borussia Monchengladbach’s Shuto Machino replaced him, and Ko Itakura took over as captain.
Can teams still replace injured players during the tournament?
A coach can replace a seriously injured outfield player up to 24 hours before the team’s first match, with confirmation from the team doctor and FIFA’s General Medical Officer. Once a team has played its first match, outfield changes are no longer permitted, although an injured goalkeeper can be replaced at any time.
Are Italy, Nigeria and Poland missing because of injuries?
No. Those nations are absent because they failed to qualify, not through injury. Their leading players, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Victor Osimhen and Robert Lewandowski, are fit but have no tournament to attend.
Which nations have the longest World Cup 2026 injury list?
Brazil, the Netherlands and Japan. Brazil lost Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Estevao and saw Neymar miss the opener, the Netherlands are without Simons, Timber, de Ligt, de Vrij and Schouten, and Japan lost captain Endo along with Mitoma and Minamino.
The World Cup 2026 injury list is now largely settled with the group stage underway. With several teams still to play their first match, the injury-replacement window remains open, and this page will be updated through the schedule as the group stage develops.
