Home News Injuries Sideline Key Players from World Cup 2026

Key Players Missing World Cup 2026 Due to Injuries

May 13, 2026
65 min
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May 13, 2026 11:31
Which stars will miss out on the World Cup due to injury?

## Confirmed Absentees

Several high-profile footballers are confirmed to miss the 2026 World Cup due to injuries. Among them is Arsenal's Ben White, who suffered a medial ligament injury. France's Hugo Ekitike is also out after an Achilles injury, while Brazil's Rodrygo and Éder Militão are sidelined with an ACL and hamstring injury, respectively. Germany's Serge Gnabry will not participate due to an adductor injury.

## Players Racing Against Time

Some players are still hopeful of recovering in time. France's Kylian Mbappe, Spain's Lamine Yamal, and Egypt's Mohamed Salah are among those whose participation remains uncertain. Argentina's Cristian Romero is another player whose World Cup fate is yet to be decided following a knee injury.

## Concerns Over Player Workload

The increasing number of injuries has raised concerns about the demanding schedules players face. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described the situation as an "accident waiting to happen," highlighting the strain of back-to-back tournaments and expanded competitions like the Champions League.

## Other Notable Injuries

Algeria's Luca Zidane is doubtful after a facial injury, while Canada's Alphonso Davies is recovering from a hamstring issue. Croatia's Luka Modrić is expected to play despite a cheekbone fracture, and Joško Gvardiol has returned to training after a leg injury. The United States faces uncertainty with Johnny Cardoso's ankle sprain.

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