As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the list of injured players continues to grow, creating major concerns for some of the world’s top teams. While several stars have already been ruled out of the tournament, others are in a race against time to recover in order to be fit for the global showpiece in North America this June.
Among the notable absentees are French forward Hugo Ekitike, Brazil’s Rodrygo, Netherlands’ Xavi Simons, Germany’s Serge Gnabry, Japan’s Takumi Minamino, and Spain’s Samu Aghehowa. All have suffered serious injuries, including ACL tears and ruptured Achilles tendons, forcing them to miss the tournament and, in some cases, a significant portion of the upcoming season.
Ekitike, who is a rising star for France, is facing a lengthy recovery after damaging his Achilles, ruling him out of the World Cup and leaving him sidelined for several months.
Brazil’s Rodrygo and Simons, both key players for their respective national teams, are dealing with severe knee ligament injuries, making their participation highly unlikely. In addition, Germany’s Gnabry has confirmed his absence due to an adductor injury that has left him unable to make the trip to North America.
Despite these setbacks, some players are still hopeful of making it in time. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Argentina’s Cristian Romero, and Brazil’s Estêvão are all working tirelessly to recover before the tournament kicks off.
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The Croatian national team is also dealing with fitness concerns, though captain Luka Modric is expected to recover in time after suffering a cheekbone fracture. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Éder Militão remains optimistic about his chances of playing despite needing surgery on a knee injury.
With the tournament just weeks away, coaches and medical teams are closely monitoring the progress of these key players. The final squad selections are looming, and many teams are anxiously waiting to make their decisions as they hope to have their best players available for the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and with so many injuries at this stage, it’s clear that the battle for fitness is just as intense as the race for qualification.
