FIFA World Cup 2026 – List of injured players who will miss the tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing closer as 48 teams prepare to battle it out across the US, Canada and Mexico for football’s biggest prize.

The tournament kicks off on July 11 with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, while the final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

While a total of 1,248 players will travel to North America, many have been left out due to unfortunate injuries suffered during the club season.

View the big names who will be missing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injuries:

Xavi Simons (Netherlands)

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons’ season came to an end in April during his side’s 2025/26 Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 23-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the second half of the game and underwent surgery, making him unavailable for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

Rodrygo (Brazil)

Brazilian Rodrygo was all set to reunite with Carlo Ancelotti for the World Cup, but the Real Madrid winger was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a tear in the lateral meniscus in his right leg, an injury he sustained during a league match against Getafe in March.

Hugo Ekitike (France)

Following Olivier Giroud’s international retirement in 2024, France were looking for a conventional striker, with Hugo Ekitike as his successor. However, the 23-year-old ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Liverpool against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League, forcing him to miss the summer tournament.

Fermin López (Spain)

Spanish midfielder Fermin Lopez was hoping to make the squad after an impressive season with Barcelona, ​​which saw him score thirteen goals and provide seventeen assists in all competitions as the club won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. But he suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a La Liga match against Real Betis last month, ruling him out of the World Cup.

Serge Gnabry (Germany)

With 26 goals in 59 appearances, Serge Gnabry would enter the World Cup as Germany’s active top scorer. However, the 30-year-old suffered an adductor muscle tear in his right leg in April, ruling him out of the rest of Bayern Munich’s season and the quadrennial tournament.

Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands)

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt made a positive start to this season, playing every minute of the club’s first thirteen Premier League games before a back injury halted his progress. He underwent surgery last month and is not expected to return until the early stages of next season.

Estevao (Brazil)

Brazilian wonderkid Estevao was primed for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, scoring five goals in his last six games for Brazil. However, the 19-year-old suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Chelsea against Manchester United in April and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)

Japan’s bid to progress past the round of 16 for the first time was dealt a huge blow after winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury in Brighton’s match against Wolves.

Lennart Karl (Germany)

After a breakthrough season in which he became Bayern Munich’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League, Lennart Karl was rightly called up by German coach Julian Nagelsmann. However, disaster struck when the 18-year-old suffered a muscle tear during training ahead of Germany’s friendly against the USA. RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouedraogo has been named his replacement.

Wesley (Brazil)

Brazil will participate in the World Cup without a specialist right back after AS Roma’s Wesley suffered a thigh injury during a warm-up match against Egypt. He has been replaced by Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

Billy Gilmour (Scotland)

Billy Gilmour was a prominent figure in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign but will play no part in the final after suffering a knee injury in Scotland’s final World Cup warm-up match against Curacao.

Published on June 8, 2026