List of Players Set to Miss Or Are Expected to Miss 2026 FIFA World Cup

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the football world is facing a mounting crisis of FIFA World Cup injuries that threatens to rob the tournament of some of its biggest names.

From torn ACLs to ruptured Achilles tendons, the injury list is growing at an alarming pace, raising serious questions about player welfare in the modern game.

With the competition set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the absence of key players could reshape national team strategies and dampen the tournament's overall spectacle.

2026 FIFA World Cup Injury List: Who Is Out?

The list of the 2026 FIFA World Cup injuries already reads like a who's who of international football. Several high-profile players have confirmed absences or are seriously in doubt, spanning multiple continents and powerhouse nations. Below are the confirmed and expected absentees, which make up the FIFA World Cup Injury List.
• Xavi Simons (Netherlands): Torn ACL
• Éder Militão (Brazil): Hamstring muscle injury
• Estêvão Willian (Brazil): Muscle injury
• Rodrygo (Brazil): Torn ACL
• Hugo Ekitike (France): Achilles tendon tear
• Juan Foyth (Argentina): Achilles tendon tear
• Joaquín Panichelli (Argentina): Torn ACL
• Mohammed Salisu (Ghana): Torn ACL
• Mohammed Kudus (Ghana): Muscle injury
• Takumi Minamino (Japan): Torn ACL
• Wataru Endo (Japan): Ankle injury
• Serge Gnabry (Germany): Muscle tear
• Luis Ángel Malagón (México): Achilles tendon tear
• Arda Güler (Turkey): Thigh muscle injury (likely to be fit before World Cup)

The sheer number of ACL and Achilles tendon injuries is particularly striking. Several of these players were considered key pillars of their respective national squads, and their absences will force managers to rethink line-ups, formations, and tactical approaches heading into the tournament.

Why Are FIFA World Cup Injuries Surging?

The sharp rise in serious injuries is not a coincidence. Experts point to a convergence of structural, technological, and physical factors that have collectively placed players’ bodies under unprecedented stress, which has resulted in these untimely FIFA World Cup injuries.

Fixture congestion remains the most cited culprit. Players are now expected to compete in expanded league calendars, continental cups, and international windows, leaving virtually no time for adequate recovery. The cumulative fatigue weakens ligaments and tendons, making them far more susceptible to catastrophic failure.

Modern training methods have also evolved to prioritize explosive speed and strength, adding greater mechanical stress to joints. While this improves on-pitch performance, it simultaneously increases injury risk when players are already fatigued from an overloaded schedule.

Pitch conditions and footwear technology play a surprisingly significant role as well. Overly watered pitches increase slipping incidents, while modern boots with ultra-high grip soles can lock a player’s foot to the ground mid-movement, a well-documented trigger for ACL tears.

The intensity of modern football, characterised by high pressing and rapid transitions, compounds the danger further by forcing sudden, explosive changes of direction.

The conclusion is difficult to escape. The football calendar and the demands placed on elite players have outpaced the human body’s ability to recover. If governing bodies and clubs do not act decisively, the 2026 FIFA World Cup injury crisis may only be a preview of worse to come. For now, supporters of some of the world’s best players will be watching the tournament from the sidelines alongside their injured heroes.