Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Sports Illustrated

Sport

Ewan Ross-Murray

2026 World Cup: The Biggest Star Players Ruled Out Through Injury

World Cup Alphonso Davies 2026 World Cup On Boubacar Kamara Cristiano Ronaldo Edson Álvarez [ Josko ] Gvardiol Levi Colwill MarcAndré ter Stegen

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. Fortunately, he’s the only major concern for La Albiceleste as things stand.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Juan Foyth	Villarreal	Achilles	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.

Currently joined by compatriot Éder Militão in the Real Madrid treatment room, the injury-prone center back should make the World Cup squad if he can avoid further setbacks. Bruno Guimarães is another concern for the Seleção, but the Newcastle United midfielder should make his return after the March international break.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Rodrygo	Real Madrid	ACL	Out
Éder Militão	Real Madrid	Hamstring	Doubt
Bruno Guimarães	Newcastle	Hamstring	Doubt

Canada

Alphonso Davies sparked fears among Canada supporters following yet another injury sustained in Bayern Munich’s 6–1 Champions League win over Atalanta, but Jesse Marsch has revealed the left back should return after the March international break. Unfortunately for his national team manager, fitness issues are all too common for Davies.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Alphonso Davies	Bayern Munich	Hamstring	Doubt

Croatia

Croatia is aiming to over-perform at another World Cup and will require Manchester City duo Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić to achieve their ambitions. While both have been sidelined with long-term injuries this season, the former is expected to return before the campaign’s end and the latter is back in training having been unavailable since October.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Joško Gvardiol	Man City	Leg	Doubt
Mateo Kovačić	Man City	Ankle	Doubt

England

England has a wealth of riches to select from ahead of the tournament but various options might be unavailable due to injuries. Levi Colwill and James Maddison have both been out for the season with ACL tears, while Jack Grealish will likely miss the remainder of the campaign with a foot issue.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Levi Colwill	Chelsea	ACL	Doubt
James Maddison	Tottenham	ACL	Doubt
Jack Grealish	Man City (on loan at Everton)	Foot	Doubt

France

Boubacar Kamara is a bigger miss than France 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
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.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Marc-André ter Stegen	Barcelona (on loan at Girona)	Hamstring	Doubt

Japan

Two key figures could be absent for Japan this summer. Ex-Liverpool star Takumi Minamino is very likely to sit the tournament out after tearing his ACL, while current Red Wataru Endo is going to take a lengthy spell to recover from his ankle injury.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Takumi Minamino	Monaco	ACL	Doubt
Wataru Endo	Liverpool	Ankle	Doubt

Mexico

Edson Alvarez — Edson Álvarez is a doubt for the co-hosts. | Omar Vega/Getty Images

Mexico heads into a home tournament with injury issues springing up left, right and center. Stalwart Edson Álvarez, youngster Gilberto Mora and long-time absentee Luis Chávez are all doubts 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
Gilberto Mora	Tijuana	Groin	Doubt
Luis Chávez	Dinamo Moscow	ACL	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. The defender faces a race against time to be fit before the end of the season, with the same applying to Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Matthijs de Ligt	Man Utd	Back	Doubt
Justin Kluivert	Bournemouth	Knee	Doubt

Portugal

There are a few injury concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his final World Cup with Portugal, the Al Nassr forward having been absent since the end of February with a hamstring complaint. The veteran should recover in time for the tournament, however.

Player	Club	Injury	Status
Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	Hamstring	Doubt

Spain

Nico Williams with arms outstretched. — Nico Williams is currently battling injury. | MAGO/DeFodi Images

Nico Williams is one of several Spain stars fighting to recover before the campaign’s conclusion. The winger joins Mikel Merino and Fabián Ruiz on the treatment table at present and all three are doubts to feature in North America for the European champions.