There’s never a good time to pick up an injury in football, but being ruled out of the World Cup always comes as a particularly cruel blow.
With the World Cup 2026 almost upon us, a number of big names are already confirmed to be missing the tournament.
Here, we’ll keep you updated with who’s out and who’s in a race to be fit for this summer’s big event.
Players Confirmed to Miss the World Cup 2026
Hugo Ekitike (France)
Ekitike’s hopes of playing at his first World Cup were dashed when he suffered a ruptured Achilles in Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to PSG.
The striker had been enjoying an impressive debut season for the Reds, scoring 16 goals, and would have been in line to be France’s second-choice striker after Kylian Mbappe – at the very least.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
The youngest member of the Netherlands squad at the 2022 World Cup, Simons will have been hoping to play a bigger part for his country this time around.
But the attacking midfielder is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing his ACL in Tottenham’s Premier League win over Wolves.
Rodrygo (Brazil)
Another player ruled out with an ACL injury, Rodrygo will be missing as Brazil aim to lift the World Cup for a record-extending sixth time.
The Real Madrid forward, who appeared in every game of his nation’s run to the quarter-finals four years ago called the blow “one of the worst days of my life”.
Serge Gnabry (Germany)
A mainstay of the German team, Gnabry will have to watch the World Cup 2026 from afar after picking up a thigh injury in training with Bayern Munich.
It’s the third time that the winger has missed a major international tournament, having also been injured for the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Patrick Agyemang (USA)
American striker Patrick Agyemang’s hopes of playing at a first World Cup were dashed when he was stretchered off with a serious Achilles injury while playing for Derby County in April.
The 25-year-old had looked in decent nick, scoring 10 goals in his debut Championship campaign, as well as finding the net in his nation’s March friendly against Belgium.
Luis Malagon (Mexico)
Another player to suffer a ruptured Achilles, Luis Malagon was set to be Mexico’s first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup 2026.
This tournament would have been the Club America custodian’s first taste of the World Cup, but co-hosts Mexico will have to look elsewhere between the sticks – with veteran cult hero Guillermo Ochoa in the mix go to a sixth finals.
Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands)
Having failed to make a Manchester United appearance since November, Matthijs de Ligt has since undergone surgery to rectify an ongoing back problem.
It does mean that De Ligt will miss the World Cup. "After 6 months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left," he posted on Instagram. "I’m disappointed I couldn’t help the team the last 6 months and obviously missing out on the World Cup, but I am looking forward to doing everything to get back in front of the fans and feeling better again."
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)
When Japan announced their 26-man World Cup squad on Friday, the obvious omission was Kaoru Mitoma.
Mitoma sustained a hamstring injury during Brighton's 3-0 win over Wolves last weekend, and will sit out the final two games of the season. "This will hurt him more than it hurts anyone," manager Hajime Moriyasu said of Mitoma's absence.
Fermin Lopez (Spain)
Fermin Lopez was forced off at the break during Barcelona's eventual 3-1 win over Real Betis.
It's since been confirmed that the midfielder suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal on his right foot. With the player now set to undergo surgery, Fermin is expected to sit out Spain's bid to win the World Cup for the second time.
Estevao (Brazil)
Estevao will have to wait another four years for his first taste of World Cup action, having suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Chelsea against Manchester United in March.
The 19-year-old’s absence, along with that of Rodrygo, leaves Brazil lacking strength in depth out wide.
Lennart Karl (Germany)
Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl looked all set to go to this summer’s World Cup but picked up a thigh injury in training.
Germany have replaced the 18-year-old with another young midfielder, 20-year-old Assan Ouedraogo of RB Leipzig.
Eder Militao (Brazil)
Surgery on a hamstring injury ruled centre-back Eder Militao out of the World Cup, where the Real Madrid man would have provided a useful back-up option for Brazil.
The 28-year-old previously represented his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Jerdy Schouten (Netherlands)
Jerdy Schouten would likely have been a midfield option for the Netherlands this summer, having been part of the squad at Euro 2024.
But the PSV Eindhoven man was hit by a serious knee injury in April and will have to watch from afar.
Lewis Miller (Australia)
Blackburn Rovers right-back Lewis Miller was condemned to a lengthy spell on the sidelines by an Achilles injury he sustained in February.
Miller appeared poised to play at his first World Cup but will now have to wait until at least 2030.
Johnny Cardoso (USA)
The co-hosts lost Johnny Cardoso to a severe ankle sprain, the Aletico Madrid midfielder requiring surgery.
Cardoso was replaced in the USA’s squad by forward Alejandro Zendejas of Mexican side America.
Takumi Minamino (Japan)
Yet another victim of the dreaded ACL injury, Takumi Minamino was looking forward to another World Cup with Japan.
The attacking midfielder faced a race against time to be fit for this summer’s tournament and ultimately wasn’t selected.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany)
Loaned out to Girona in January to get more game time, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s World Cup hopes ended up being dashed by a torn thigh muscle.
Germany look set, instead, to go with Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann between the sticks.
Marcelo Flores (Canada)
Canada winger Marcelo Flores has been ruled out of the World Cup 2026 with a ruptured ACL.
Playing his club football for Tigres in Mexico, Flores made his senior Canada debut earlier this year.
Billy Gilmour (Scotland)
Billy Gilmour was all set to play a part in Scotland’s first World Cup campaign since 1998, but he picked up a knee injury in the recent friendly against Curacao.
It was a cruel blow for the 24-year-old Napoli midfielder who was part of Scotland’s Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 squads.
Tino Livramento (England)
Tino Livramento was gearing up for his first major tournament with the England senior team, only for the Newcastle right-back pick up a muscle injury on the eve of the Three Lions’ opening game against Croatia.
Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah is expected to replace Livramento in the squad, having won his only full cap so far last year.
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