Brazil and the Netherlands hit hardest
No two squads have been hurt more than Brazil and the Netherlands. Each lost multiple first-choice players before a ball was kicked.
Brazil are without three attacking and defensive options. Manager Carlo Ancelotti turned to 34-year-old Neymar to fill the gap.
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Rodrygo | Torn ACL and meniscus. |
| Estêvão | A torn hamstring left the teenager off the squad. |
| Éder Militão | A hamstring tear that required surgery, per the ESPN injuries tracker. |
The Netherlands lost an entire spine of their squad, with their defence worst affected.
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Jurriën Timber | A groin strain the federation said had not healed enough to play “in a medically responsible manner.” |
| Xavi Simons | Tore an ACL playing for Tottenham in April. |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Ruled out after further back surgery. |
| Jerdy Schouten | The PSV midfielder suffered severe cruciate ligament damage in April. |
Big blows for Asian and Gulf-region teams
Japan are the biggest Asian casualty, losing two of their most important attackers before the tournament. Both injuries came too late to recover from in time.
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Kaoru Mitoma | A torn hamstring meant the Brighton winger did not make Japan’s final 26-man squad. |
| Takumi Minamino | Tore an ACL in December and could not prove his fitness in time. |
There is better news for the region’s other big draws. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi pulled a hamstring in May but recovered in time and is available.
There was no such reprieve for Japan captain Wataru Endo.
He was ruled out shortly before the opener against the Netherlands after failing to recover from a foot injury that required surgery in February, and the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder announced his retirement from international football.
More confirmed absences across Europe and the Americas
The injury list stretches well beyond the headline names, touching nearly every confederation. These players have all been officially ruled out.
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Lennart Karl (Germany) | The 18-year-old suffered a torn thigh muscle in training. |
| Tino Livramento (England) | A calf injury ended his tournament, with Trevoh Chalobah called up. |
| Patrick Agyemang (United States) | Tore an Achilles in early April. |
| Johnny Cardoso (United States) | A high-grade ankle sprain that required surgery. |
| Lewis Miller (Australia) | Ruled out after Achilles surgery. |
| Marcelo Flores (Canada) | Ruptured his ACL in the Concacaf Champions Cup final. |
| Ismaël Koné (Canada) | Broke his left leg (tibia and fibula) after a tackle in Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar on 18 June; underwent successful surgery and will miss the rest of the tournament. |
| Billy Gilmour (Scotland) | A knee injury picked up in a pre-tournament friendly. |
Racing the clock: stars still in doubt
A handful of major names are racing the clock with knocks or recent injuries.
Here is where each stands as of 29 June 2026, though their status may keep changing as the tournament unfolds.
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Neymar (Brazil) | A grade 2 calf strain kept him out of Brazil’s first two group games, but coach Carlo Ancelotti says he should be available for the group finale against Scotland. |
| Cristian Romero (Argentina) | A partially torn MCL in April put his place in doubt, but he recovered in time and started Argentina’s opener. |
| Lamine Yamal (Spain) | Recovered from a partially torn hamstring and is in the squad, though Spain are managing his minutes carefully. |
| Alphonso Davies (Canada) | The captain missed Canada’s opener with a hamstring problem — on top of a 2025 ACL tear — but returned to action against Qatar. |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Inter Miami flagged left-hamstring muscle fatigue before the tournament, but he recovered and was included in Argentina’s squad. |
| Reece James (England) | A minor hamstring injury kept him out of England’s final group game, and he is unavailable for the last-32 tie against DR Congo. |
| Jarell Quansah (England) | Twisted an ankle against Panama and is a major doubt for England’s last-32 tie against DR Congo. |
Where you can still catch the affected teams
Even without their injured stars, these teams will draw huge crowds across the 16 host cities. If you are planning a trip, build it around your team’s group-stage base.
Spain opened their campaign in Atlanta, a popular entry point with plenty of hotels in Atlanta near the stadium. Search flights to Atlanta early, as group-stage weekends sell out fast.
The final is in New York/New Jersey on 19 July, so factor in higher fares and hotels in New York for that period. Mexico’s opener was in Mexico City and Canada’s in Toronto.
Other major venues worth checking flights for include Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and Vancouver. You can track any team’s match-day routes and live flight status on the Wego flight tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team lost the most players to injury?
Brazil and the Netherlands were hit hardest. Brazil lost Rodrygo, Estêvão and Éder Militão, while the Netherlands lost Timber, Simons, de Ligt and Schouten.
Is Lamine Yamal playing at the World Cup?
Yes. Yamal recovered from a partially torn hamstring and was named in Spain’s squad. Spain are managing his minutes game by game and he has not yet played a full 90.
Which Asian stars are missing the tournament?
Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) and Takumi Minamino (ACL) were both ruled out. Captain Wataru Endo was also ruled out shortly before the tournament with a foot injury and retired from international football.
When and where is the 2026 World Cup?
It runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The final is at MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area.
Sources
- ESPN — 2026 World Cup Injuries Tracker
- ESPN — Canada’s Ismaël Koné Stretchered Off vs Qatar
- Al Jazeera — Canada’s Koné Undergoes Major Leg Surgery, to Miss Rest of World Cup
- ESPN — Japan Captain Wataru Endo Out of World Cup, Announces Retirement
- ESPN — Ancelotti: Neymar Available for Brazil’s Group Finale vs Scotland
- Mundo Albiceleste — Romero to Start Argentina’s World Cup Opener
- ESPN — Alphonso Davies Available to Play Canada vs Qatar
- Al Jazeera — Yamal Says Too Soon to Play a Full World Cup Match
- The Guardian — Jarell Quansah Likely to Miss DR Congo as England Right-Back Problems Mount
- FC Barcelona — Fermín López Injury News
- ESPN — Netherlands’ Matthijs de Ligt Ruled Out After Back Surgery
- ESPN — Canada’s Marcelo Flores Ruptures ACL, Out of World Cup
- beIN Sports — Billy Gilmour Out of 2026 World Cup With Knee Injury
- ESPN — 2026 World Cup Squad Lists for All 48 Teams
- FIFA — World Cup 2026 Hosts, Cities and Dates
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
