2026 World Cup: The Biggest Star Players Ruled Out Through Injury
Every soccer player’s lifelong ambition is to represent their country at the World Cup. For many, those dreams will come true this summer.
The United States, Canada and Mexico will stage the 2026 edition of soccer’s most loved and prestigious tournament, a festival of drama, passion and chaos certain to be defined by moments of individual inspiration.
However, a thought must be spared for those who won’t make this summer’s spectacle. Not due to underperformance or their nation’s absence, but simply because of a cruel and dream-shattering injury blow.
Here are the unfortunate stars who are set to miss the 2026 World Cup due to fitness issues.
Argentina
Argentina knows it will be without one member of their 2022 World Cup-winning squad this summer. Villarreal defender Juan Foyth has been sidelined until the beginning of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
Fellow defender and vital contributor Cristian Romero is now a doubt for the World Cup, too. The Spurs star suffered a knee injury on April 13 and is now staring at a lengthy spell on the sidelines—although there are hopes he can return in time for the journey to North America.
Joaquín Panichelli, who made his debut for Argentina last November following an impressive term with Strasbourg, misses out on the chance to sneak into the squad after tearing his ACL for the second time.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | Knee | Doubt |
Juan Foyth | Villarreal | Achilles | Out |
Joaquín Panichelli | Strasbourg | ACL | Out |
Brazil
Rodrygo is the first significant casualty for Brazil ahead of the tournament. The Real Madrid starlet and 37-cap international will be forced to watch on from the sidelines after tearing his ACL.
Raphinha suffered a hamstring strain during March’s international break and will want to make a speedy recovery with the tournament just around the corner. He should return in May if he avoids setbacks.
However, another Brazil winger’s participation is now in serious doubt, Chelsea forward Estêvão likely missing a first ever tournament through a grade four hamstring injury.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Raphinha | Barcelona | Hamstring | Doubt |
Estêvão | Chelsea | Hamstring | Doubt |
Rodrygo | Real Madrid | ACL | Out |
Croatia
Croatia is aiming to over-perform at another World Cup and will require Manchester City star Joško Gvardiol achieve its ambitions. He’s expected to return before the campaign’s end, but still remains a doubt for the tournament.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Joško Gvardiol | Man City | Leg | Doubt |
England
England has a wealth of riches to select from ahead of the tournament but various options are unavailable through injuries. Jack Grealish was ruled out for the remainder of what promised to be a glittering loan spell at Everton with a foot issue.
Levi Colwill and James Maddison both sat out vast chunks of the season recovering from ACL tears before making tentative returns in May. Unfortunately, that may prove too late for an England call-up.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Levi Colwill | Chelsea | ACL | Doubt |
James Maddison | Tottenham | ACL | Doubt |
Jack Grealish | Man City (on loan at Everton) | Foot | Out |
France
The look of Hugo Ekitiké’s face said it all. After an awkward slip during Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain, the French striker heard his Achilles before he hit the turf.
“This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team,” Didier Deschamps insisted. Yet, there won’t have been many rival fans feeling too bad for Les Bleus, who can replace the Liverpool striker with any of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, et. al.
Midfield depth is not so abundant for France and Boubacar Kamara is a bigger miss than many may even realize. The influential defensive midfielder had been enjoying an excellent season with Aston Villa and could have earned a France recall only for a nasty knee injury to cut his campaign tragically short.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Hugo Ekitiké | Liverpool | Achilles | Out |
Boubacar Kamara | Aston Villa | ACL | Doubt |
Germany
Injury problems continue to derail the career of Marc-André ter Stegen, who suffered a devastating hamstring injury in his debut with loan club Girona. The Barcelona stopper hasn’t played for Germany since June due to injuries.
Another blow Die Mannschaft is the absence of Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry, who will miss the tournament through a thigh injury. The 30-year-old had produced 23 goal involvements this season prior to his ailment.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Marc-André ter Stegen | Barcelona (on loan at Girona) | Hamstring | Doubt |
Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich | Thigh | Out |
Japan
Ex-Liverpool star Takumi Minamino will sit the tournament out after tearing his ACL, while Brighton & Hove Albion gem Kaoru Mitoma was forced to miss out on the final roster with a hamstring injury suffered just a little too late in the season.
In better news for Japan, current Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo did make the cut after recovering from a nasty ankle injury.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Takumi Minamino | Monaco | ACL | Out |
Kaoru Mitoma | Brighton | Hamstring | Out |
Mexico
Mexico heads into a home tournament with injury issues springing up left, right and center. Stalwart Edson Álvarez is a doubt for the competition, while Toluca’s Marcel Ruiz and Club América goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón will miss out with serious knee injuries.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Edson Álvarez | West Ham (on loan at Fenerbahçe) | Ankle | Doubt |
Marcel Ruiz | Toulca | ACL | Out |
Luis Ángel Malagón | Club América | ACL | Out |
Netherlands
Matthijs de Ligt has been missing since the end of November with an awkward back injury which seemingly refuses to heal. It was confirmed in May that the defender would lose his race against time to be fit before the end of the season, although Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert has managed to fight his way back to fitness.
One player who definitely won’t make it to North America this summer is Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons, who took to social media to reveal he was “heartbroken” learn a knee injury has ended his hopes of appearing at the tournament.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Xavi Simons | Tottenham | Knee | Out |
Matthijs de Ligt | Man Utd | Back | Doubt |
Spain
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino remains a major doubt to feature in North America for the European champions while he still resides in the recovery stage of a nasty bone injury.
Up-and-comer Samu Aghehowa, who has made four senior Spain appearances, is out of contention through an ACL injury.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Mikel Merino | Arsenal | Foot | Doubt |
Samu Aghehowa | Porto | ACL | Out |
United States
The USMNT might have to cope without Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer as the defender continues his recovery from an Achilles tear. Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to have the Celtic star back in time.
Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang won’t be involved, however, the 25-year-old ruled out with a serious Achilles injury. Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso is also set to sit out the tournament after sustaining a high-grade ankle injury. Most concerningly of all, the second half of Christian Pulisic’s season has been pockmarked by fitness struggles, although Captain America is expected to make the home tournament.
Player | Club | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Cameron Carter-Vickers | Celtic | Achilles | Doubt |
Patrick Agyemang | Derby County | Achilles | Out |
Johnny Cardoso | Atlético Madrid | Ankle | Out |
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