The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been significantly impacted by a wave of serious injuries in the final stretch of the club season, leaving several national teams without key stars.
Brazil
Brazil have suffered multiple setbacks ahead of the tournament:
• Estêvão – Torn hamstring sustained against Manchester United in April. Initially expected to recover quickly, the young winger was left out of the preliminary squad.
• Rodrygo – Torn ACL and meniscus from a March match, ruling him out for the remainder of 2026. He was one of Brazil’s top scorers in qualifying.
• Éder Militão – Hamstring tear requiring surgery, further weakening the defensive options.
These absences have forced manager Carlo Ancelotti to call up 34-year-old Neymar as a replacement, highlighting sudden gaps in attacking depth.
Netherlands
The Dutch national team will miss important midfielders:
• Xavi Simons – Torn ACL in late April.
• Jerdy Schouten – Torn ACL suffered while playing for his club.
• Matthijs de Ligt – Long-standing back problem requiring additional surgery.
Japan
Japan’s attacking options have been depleted:
• Kaoru Mitoma – Torn hamstring. Coach Hajime Moriyasu confirmed he will miss the tournament, describing it as a huge loss.
• Takumi Minamino – Failed to recover from an ACL tear sustained in December.
Other Notable Absences
• Serge Gnabry (Germany) – Torn adductor injury.
• Hugo Ekitiké (France) – Torn Achilles tendon.
• Fermín López (Spain) – Metatarsal fracture requiring surgery.
• Patrick Agyemang (United States) – Torn Achilles tendon.
• Lewis Miller (Australia) – Torn Achilles tendon.
• Johnny Cardoso (United States) – High-grade ankle sprain requiring surgery.
These high-profile injuries have reshuffled squads across the globe and opened doors for younger or fringe players to step up. Teams like Brazil, Netherlands, and Japan will now rely heavily on squad depth as they compete in what promises to be a highly competitive 2026 World Cup in North America.
The absences underscore the physical demands of modern football and add extra unpredictability to the tournament.