World Cup 2026 Injury Watch: Key Names Racing To Be Ready

ByPrudent Nsengiyumva

BBC Sport journalist

With nan World Cup accelerated approaching, respective high-profile players are sidelined aliases successful a title against clip to beryllium their fitness.

Injuries person near world managers facing difficult decisions arsenic nan tourney successful nan United States, Canada and Mexico draws person to its 11 June start.

Lamine Yamal caused Spain interest erstwhile he suffered a hamstring wounded successful scoring for Barcelona against Celta Vigo connected Wednesday - though his nine expect him to beryllium fresh for nan World Cup.

Nonetheless, he has added his sanction to a increasing database of cardinal players pinch wounded troubles arsenic nan tourney nears.

And location are immoderate large names connected that list.

Marc Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany)

Germany's first-choice goalkeeper is fighting to beryllium retrieve from a semipermanent hamstring problem. The wounded has severely constricted his preparation, and his chances of being fresh for nan opening matches successful June are fading. His absence would beryllium a awesome setback for a squad built astir acquisition astatine awesome tournaments.

Rodrygo (Real Madrid and Brazil)

Brazil look a important rustle pinch nan Real Madrid guardant ruled retired aft tearing his anterior cruciate ligament successful March. The five-time world champions will beryllium without 1 of their astir explosive attacking options, pinch his wounded ending immoderate hopes of a tourney comeback.

Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina)

The Argentina defender is retired for nan remainder of nan Premier League play pinch a knee injury. The 27-year-old was visibly upset arsenic he limped disconnected pursuing a collision pinch goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky during Tottenham's Premier League conclusion astatine Sunderland successful April.

While location is optimism he will retrieve successful time, concerns stay complete his deficiency of caller lucifer action. His aggression and activity are cardinal to Argentina's protect set-up.

Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool and France)

France striker Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon successful April and is not expected to return to action until 2027, ending his World Cup hopes entirely.

Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt past July and has been 1 of their standout performers successful a difficult play for nan club, pinch 17 goals and six assists successful each competitions.

Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur and Ghana)

Kudus is awaiting further appraisal connected a quad wounded that could require surgery. Ghana consequence losing their cardinal imaginative fig if betterment takes longer than expected. His readiness remains uncertain arsenic important decisions loom. The Ghana world has been retired for much than 3 months aft limping retired of Spurs' 1-1 tie pinch Sunderland connected 4 January.

Eder Militao (Real Madrid and Brazil)

Militao has been ruled retired for nan remainder of Real Madrid's play aft suffering a hamstring tear. The 28-year-old centre-back is targeting a return for nan World Cup, but Brazil's aesculapian unit are cautious fixed his caller history of musculus injuries.

Reece James (Chelsea and England)

England defender James is erstwhile again dealing pinch hamstring issues while sidelined astatine Chelsea. Having missed nan past 2 awesome tournaments, his hopes dangle connected avoiding further setbacks. The 26-year-old sustained nan wounded successful a 1-0 Premier League conclusion by Newcastle successful March. Any hold successful betterment would put his spot successful superior doubt.

Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich and Canada)

Canada's talisman is erstwhile again struggling pinch nan recurring musculus issues that person plagued his caller seasons astatine Bayern Munich. His explosive gait is cardinal to Canada's threat, but his assemblage seems to beryllium pushing backmost astatine nan worst imaginable moment. If he is not afloat fit, Canada's chances return a monolithic hit.

Mikel Merino (Arsenal and Spain)

The Arsenal midfielder has been a dependable beingness for Spain, but a fractured ft has kept him connected nan sidelines since February. Spain's aesculapian unit are wary of a premature return.

Wataru Endo (Liverpool and Japan)

Japan skipper Endo is coping pinch a double setback involving his knee and ankle since sustaining nan wounded that near him successful request of room during February's lucifer against Sunderland. He is group to miss nan remainder of Liverpool's play and his absence for Japan would time off a large spread successful position of midfield activity and experience.

Arda Guler (Real Madrid and Turkey)

A hamstring wounded has brought Guler's home play to an end. Although he mightiness retrieve successful clip for nan World Cup, concerns stay complete his sharpness and readiness pinch constricted clip to regain lucifer fitness.

Estevao Willian (Chelsea and Brazil)

The Chelsea teenage guardant is recovering from a hamstring tear and will not characteristic again for nan Blues this season. Brazil stay hopeful, but his deficiency of caller shot makes action uncertain. The last determination is apt to hinge connected his advancement successful nan coming weeks.