The biggest stage in team sport is set, and hundreds of players around the globe are gearing up for their first-ever World Cup.
The tournament across the Americas is now under two months away, and in a month’s time final squads will be submitted for the 2026 showpiece.
Players will be giving it their all to be included in the final running, but there are gifted players who already have their spots guaranteed.
Yet for a select few of them, even with their coaches completely convinced, injury has cruelly robbed them of the 2026 World Cup.
foot.mundo details which players who were destined to star at the tournament have been definitively ruled out with long-term injuries.
Argentina injury list
Leonardo Balerdi
Balerdi was set to make his World Cup debut and be relied upon after becoming one of Marseille’s best players in defence.
However, he was injured in a training session, with the football federation saying: “Defender Leonardo Balerdi injured his right calf and will not be able to join the squad for the World Cup.”
Spain injury list
Fermin Lopez
Spain have lost two midfielders in the space of a week with Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez now out with a foot injury suffered against Real Betis.
Barca said in a statement: “The team’s first-choice player, Fermín López, suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot in the match against Betis. The player will undergo surgery.”
Such an injury recovery is way beyond the June 16th start date of the tournament.
Ander Barrenetxea
Barrenetxea was included in Spain’s last March squad during a fine season for Real Sociedad, but missed Luis de la Fuente’s preliminary 55-man World Cup squad after an injury against Girona.
La Real have since confirmed why, with his injury keeping him out of action during the summer.
Germany injury list
Serge Gnabry
Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl said: “He’s very composed, very stable, but of course disappointed.
“When you’re 30 or 31, you probably still have a World Cup ahead of you. I don’t know how much longer he’ll be playing, but it could have been his last chance.
“I feel sorry for him because he would have played a very good role for the German team at the World Cup.”
Lennart Karl
Karl was the next Bayern star attacker to find is way out of the tournament with a muscle tear in the final training session before their last friendly.
“It’s a huge shock for him and all of us that he’s missing the World Cup,” Julian Nagelsmann said.
Brazil injury list
Rodrygo
Rodrygo picked up a knee injury in February and later said: “I’m out of the rest of the season with my club and out of the World Cup with my country, a dream that everyone knows how much it means to me. And all I can do is be strong as always, this is nothing new.
“Even though it’s a very difficult time, I promise not to stop here, I believe I still have many incredible things to experience and bring joy to everyone who trusts me.”
Eder Militao
Marca confirmed of the regularly injured Militao: “After opting for surgery, the Brazilian center-back will miss the World Cup and is expected to be out for about five months for a recovery that represents another major setback to his career.”
Wesley
Roma right back Wesley has since been added to Brazil’s injury list after he was seen crying off Saturday’s friendly against Egypt.
A statment from the football federation read: “The MRI revealed a muscle injury in the adductor of the left thigh.
“The CBF regrets the injury. Wesley is a much-loved player within the group and will always be considered part of this team that aspires to its sixth world title.
“Following the diagnosis, the CBF announced the call-up of player Éderson, who will join the delegation this Monday in the United States.”
Netherlands injury list
Jurrien Timber
Arsenal’s Timber has been sent home from the World Cup having failed to recover from his groin injury in time.
“We sat down with Jurriën until late yesterday, and even this morning. Unfortunately, we have to make this decision,” Ronald Koeman said.
Matthijs de Ligt
De Ligt is the latest Dutch player to miss out on the World Cup with Manchester United announcing back surgery for the defender.
“After he has worked hard throughout his rehabilitation process, it was decided that corrective surgery was the best course of action,” the club said, ruling him out until the start of the 2026/27 season.
Xavi Simons
Tottenham’s Simons wrote on social media: “They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way.
“My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.
“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup.
“Representing my country this summer…just gone. It’ll take time to find peace with this, but I’ll continue to be the best teammate I can be. I have no doubt that together we’ll win this fight.”
Emmanuel Emegha
Emegha suffered a hamstring injury playing for Strasbourg and both the Netherlands and Ronald Koeman say there’s very little chance of him recovering for the summer.
“He has had a season with a lot of injuries,” Koeman said.
“It is painful when you stand a chance of going to a major tournament, only to get injured again. That applies to him, but also to other players. If you sustain a muscle injury during this period and recovery takes five or six weeks, then unfortunately you won’t play in a major tournament.”
France injury list
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury while playing for Liverpool against former side PSG just as he was starting to become a fixture for France.
A club statement read: “Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer’s World Cup with France.”
Morocco injury list
Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli
Morocco have received the brutal news of injuries to pair Nayef Aguerd and Abde Ezzalzouli on the same day the World Cup kicks off.
The pair are out of the tournament, but thankfully for Morocco, their campaign doesn’t kick off until Sunday, and teams are allowed to replace injured players more than 48 hours before they kick off.
As such, Amine Sbaï and Marwane Saadane have been called up in their places.
Austria injury list
Christoph Baumgartner
Key Austria midfielder Christoph Baumgartner has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury suffered in a friendly win over Tunisia.
The football association confirmed: “He will not be able to participate in the World Cup,” while coach Ralf Rangnick added: “This is, of course, very bitter news for Christoph and for us as a team. He is an important player and a key figure within our squad. Our full support is now focused on his recovery,”
Scotland injury list
Billy Gilmour
Scotland have been dealt a brutal blow with key midfielder Billy Gilmour injured in a friendly against Curacao.
The Scottish FA have now ruled him out of the World Cup, with coach Steve Clarke adding: “I am devastated for Billy, he was an integral part of our World Cup qualification.
“The timing of this injury is so incredibly cruel, we all feel for him.”
Japan injury list
Wataru Endo
Endo withdrew from Japan’s squad through injury and announced his international retirement. Luckily he did so 48 hours before their opener kicked off so he was able to be replaced by Gladbach’s Shuto Machino.
Takumi Minamino
Japan’s poster boy ahead of the World Cup, Monaco’s Takumi Minamino won’t be playing.
The AS Monaco attacker tore his cruciate ligament in December and isn’t expected back until next season.
However, he is travelling to the Americas to be part of the team, taking an undefined role in the coaching staff.
Ghana injury list
Mohammed Kudus
Leading Ghana midfielder Kudus was expected to be back by mid-March, but suffered a relapse in recovery while with Tottenham.
He failed to return for Spurs before the end of the season and has now been left out of Ghana’s provisional 28-man squad.
Canada injury list
Marcelo Flores
Forward Marcelo Flores has dropped out of Canada’s World Cup squad after suffering an ACL injury.
The Tigres UANL tore his ligament in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final against Deportivo Toluca.
“This is of course very sad for him, we feel for him,” said coach Jesse Marsch.
England injury list
Jack Grealish
Grealish suffered a foot fracture while playing for Everton in January and while his World Cup hopes may have been slimmer than others, they’re now all but over.
The BBC wrote in a report: “The injury ends any hopes of Grealish making England’s World Cup squad this summer.”
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