Key injuries to players like Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Neymar Jr. could affect team preparations and performance in the upcoming 2026 World Cup starting tomorrow.
Several key injuries could factor into the 39-day 2026 World Cup, including those to Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.
While some national teams have known for months about expected injury-related absences, allowing them to prepare replacements, others are in limbo about the status of key players, which could hinder their tournament aspirations.
The 48-team tournament will be held from tomorrow, Thursday through July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Spain, the No. 2 team in the FIFA world rankings, is favoured to win the tournament. No. 3 France, No. 4 England, No. 5 Portugal, No. 6 Brazil and No. 1 Argentina, the defending champion, are among other top contenders.
Spain’s Yamal was recently ranked by tournament broadcaster Fox as the best player in the tournament. But the winger continues to be evaluated for groin issues and a hamstring injury he sustained in April.
Yamal’s status for Spain’s opener — Monday versus Cape Verde — remains in vague. Coach Luis de la Fuente previously told the Guardian that he could wait for the Spaniards’ second game to debut the star winger. Yamal hasn’t played since April 22.
He provided another update Monday, telling reporters that Yamal and fellow injured forwards Nico Williams and Victor Munoz, who were left off Spain’s squad for a friendly against Peru on Monday in Mexico, are all on track to play against Cape Verde. De La Fuente hinted the players could be on minutes restrictions for the opener.
“All three are within the expected timelines to arrive in good condition for June 15,” de la Fuente said. “The most important thing is that those timelines are being met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and available to be selected at some point in the match.”
Spanish midfielder Fermin Lopez was previously ruled out with a foot fracture. Midfielder/striker Mikel Merino sustained a foot stress fracture in January, but recovered and is available for World Cup.
Messi, who is to play in a record sixth World Cup, is dealing with a thigh/hamstring issue and hadn’t played since May 24. He entered as a substitute in Argentina’s 3-0 friendly victory over Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Ala. Messi, a 70th minute substitute, scored off a penalty kick in the 72nd minute.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters before the match that Messi would be on a minutes restriction to “avoid any type of risks.” Messi said he was still dealing with discomfort when he arrived with his Argentina teammates. He told reporters he was up to form after the match.
“I felt great,” Messi said. “I’d been keen to play for a while, having been carrying that [injury] since I arrived. I was eager to get going and shake off the lingering fears you have when you’re carrying an injury, so I could play freely. We’ve got a week left to get everyone fit and ready for the opener.”
Cristian Romero (knee) and defender Nahuel Molina (thigh) are among the other Argentins stars dealing with injuries. Romero hadn’t played since April 12 before appearing as substitute in each of Argentina’s two friendlies Saturday and Tuesday.
Molina, who hasn’t played since May 9, did not take the field in either friendly, despite being declared available by Scaloni. Midfielder Nico Paz, who was out since May due to a knee issue, returned as a substitute against Iceland.
The top-ranked Argentines will play Algeria in their tournament opener Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.
Neymar is among several Brazilian players with injury concerns ahead of the World Cup. The star forward has been out since mid-May with a calf injury. Brazil said Monday that an MRI of Neymar’s injury showed positive progress, but he is still not expected to play in their opener Saturday against Morocco.
Brazilian defender Wesley sustained a thigh injury Saturday and was replaced by midfielder Ederson.
Raphinha, who previously dealt with a hamstring issue, returned last month and started each of Brazil’s last two friendlies. Brazilians Rodrygo (knee), Estevao (hamstring) and Eder Militao (hamstring) were previously ruled out of the tournament.
The United States Men’s National Team will also be without several notable names at the 2026 World Cup, including forward Patrick Agyemang (Achilles) and midfielder Johnny Cardoso (ankle). Defender Chris Richards, who hasn’t played since mid-May due to an ankle injury, was ruled out of the Americans’ final friendly, but participated Monday in his first full training session of camp.
The U.S. men will face Paraguay in their opener Friday in Inglewood, Calif.
Forward/midfielder Serge Gnabry (thigh), midfielder Lennart Karl (thigh) and goalie Marc-Andre ter Stegen (thigh) are among the German players fans won’t see at the World Cup. Germany will take on Curacao in a Group E opener Sunday in Houston.
The Netherlands will be without defender Jurrien Timber (groin), midfielder Xavi Simons (knee), midfielder Jerdy Schouten (knee) and defender Matthijs de Ligt (back). The Dutch will play Japan in a Group F opener Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Japan will be without winger Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) and midfielder/winger Takumi Minamino (knee). Midfielder Wataru Endo (ankle), who hadn’t played since Feb. 11, started Japan’s May 31 friendly against Iceland. The captain trained alone Wednesday while his teammates had the day off.
France will be without forward Hugo Ekitike (Achilles). Defender William Saliba (back) started during a 3-1 friendly victory over Northern Ireland on Monday and played the entire first half.
Australian defender Lewis Miller (Achilles), Canada winger Marcelo Flores (knee) and Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour (knee) are among other players who won’t play in the World Cup.
England defender Tino Livramento (thigh), Australia midfielder Aiden O’Neill (ankle), Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez (ankle) and Ghana midfielder/winger Mohammed Kudus (hamstring) are also dealing with injuries.
Livramento was a second-half substitute in England’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand on Saturday in Tampa, Fla. He hadn’t played since April 18. O’Neill started each of Australia’s last two friendlies. Gimenez hasn’t played since May 9. Kudus has been out since January.
Canada defender Alphonso Davies (hamstring), Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi (hamstring), England defender Reece James (hamstring) and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric (cheekbone fracture) have also been dealing with injuries, but are expected to play in the 48-team tournament.
Davies last played May 6 in Bayern Munich’s Championship League semifinal draw with Paris Saint-Germain. Canada manager Jesse Marsch said last week that Davies will play in the World Cup, but didn’t specify when the captain would make his debut. He is not expected to play in Canada’s opener June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We’re motivated to get him healthy,” Marsch said Friday on Men in Blazers. “We’re motivated to give him a chance to play in this tournament. We’re doing everything we can to work with our medical team to do that. Alphonso is too. In the meantime, the team feels the energy. The feel having him back in the group is a different feeling than it was without him.
“If we can give him a chance to play in this tournament, and then get him on the pitch at a high level, where we know he can help us be better, this is all we are focusing on in terms of what Alphonso needs right now.”
James was a substitute in England’s friendly win over New Zealand. Modric started each of Croatia’s last two friendlies. Hakimi started Morocco’s 1-1 friendly draw with Norway on Sunday in Harrison, N.J.
Mexico will host South Africa in the World Cup opener at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday in Mexico City. Tournament coverage will air on Fox platforms. (UPI)
