Several World Cup contenders face late blows as a string of ACLs, hamstrings and other serious injuries has already ruled elite players out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup or left them doubtful. Nations and clubs must scramble for replacements as recovery timelines stretch into next season, reshaping tournament favorites and squad plans.
Confirmed absences for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Rodrygo (Real Madrid — Brazil)
Rodrygo’s ACL tear in March ends his World Cup chances and delays Real Madrid’s pre-season planning. Brazil loses a dynamic winger who offers width and goal threat, forcing Tite to reconsider attacking balance and depth on the right flank.
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool — France)
Ekitike ruptured his Achilles in April and faces a nine-to-twelve-month recovery. France now loses a young center-forward option, pushing Didier Deschamps toward more experienced, fit alternatives for striker rotation.
Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich — Germany)
A serious adductor tear requiring surgery rules Gnabry out for three to four months. Germany will miss his pace and transitional threat down the right, and Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern will need cover during a summer rehabilitation period.
Xavi Simons (Tottenham — Netherlands)
Simons suffered an ACL after scoring in a rare bright moment for Spurs. The injury wipes out his World Cup and complicates his immediate club future, potentially affecting transfer options and his development trajectory.
Eder Militao (Real Madrid — Brazil)
A hamstring injury that required surgery rules Militao out of Brazil’s squad and sidelines Real Madrid’s central defense until the autumn. Brazil’s back line must reorganize without a physical, ball-playing center-back.
Mohammed Salisu (Monaco — Ghana)
Salisu’s ACL tear removes a regular defensive starter from Ghana’s plans, weakening their central defensive options and forcing the team to lean on backup partnerships with less top-level continuity.
Patrick Agyemang (Derby County — USA)
Agyemang’s ruptured Achilles ends a fairytale run toward a potential home-turf call-up. The U.S. loses a physically imposing striker option that would have offered depth and a different attacking profile for Mauricio Pochettino.
Players racing the clock for World Cup fitness
Takumi Minamino (Monaco — Japan)
An ACL in December leaves Minamino in a steep recovery race. Six months from injury is optimistic; Japan must prepare alternative creative midfield and attacking plans while monitoring his progress.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona — Spain)
Yamal’s Grade 2 hamstring strain is the headline fitness story. Recovery time of four to six weeks makes his participation likely but not guaranteed, and Spain will be cautious reintroducing minutes to avoid a costly recurrence.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG — Morocco)
Hakimi’s hamstring issue from the Champions League semifinals creates uncertainty for Morocco. Even a short absence would force tactical tweaks, as Hakimi provides unique attacking width and transition speed.
Estevao (Chelsea — Brazil)
The young forward’s hamstring injury sits at a crossroads: surgery would almost certainly rule him out, while a conservative plan risks re-injury. Brazil and Chelsea face a delicate choice balancing short-term tournament availability against long-term career health.
Cristian Romero (Tottenham — Argentina)
A knee problem after a collision leaves Romero doubtful. Argentina would lose a combative, proactive center-back, increasing pressure on Lisandro Martínez and other options to fill physical and positional voids.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool — Egypt)
Salah’s hamstring scare prompted concern, but a club update indicates he should return before season’s end. Egypt can breathe easier, with Salah’s World Cup availability not currently in jeopardy.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid — Croatia)
A complex facial fracture ended Modric’s club season, but surgery timelines suggest he should be available for Croatia. His presence remains pivotal for midfield control and experienced leadership.
Mikel Merino (Arsenal — Spain)
A broken foot has sidelined Merino since January. Match fitness is the real question: absence from club action complicates his ability to prove readiness for Spain’s final selection.
Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid — USA)
A high-grade ankle sprain sustained in training has ended Cardoso’s club season and puts his World Cup prospects in serious doubt, tightening the midfield competition for the U.S.
What this injury wave means for teams and tactics
Late injuries force managers to choose between experience and form. Brazil’s depth is tested without Rodrygo and Militao, potentially shifting lineups toward more defensive solidity or alternate wing profiles. Spain’s attack hinges on Yamal’s recovery; without him, La Roja must modify right-sided creativity. Morocco and Argentina would feel tactical strain losing Hakimi and Romero respectively, given how both shape defensive transitions.
Clubs will also feel downstream effects: long rehab timelines disrupt pre-season planning and transfer strategy. Young players facing conservative recoveries (Estevao, Simons) risk stalled development, while clubs weigh short-term tournaments against long-term asset value.
What to watch next
Fitness tests and progressive minutes in friendly windows will be decisive. National coaches must set contingency plans now and finalize rosters with an eye on durability rather than headline names. With the World Cup kicking off June 11, every rehab appointment and training session between now and squad deadlines carries outsized importance.
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Monitoring medical updates from clubs, incremental return-to-play benchmarks and how managers react tactically over the coming weeks will reveal who truly remains in contention and who is out of the picture.
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