It’s a chestnut tree as we approach all the major selection tournaments. This 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada is no exception. Stars, senior players, revelations or whatever the status are forced to withdraw. Some teams have escaped it so far, like Portugal, a rare claimant to have fallen between the drops of FC Infirmerie. Most teams have one or two absent due to injury, more or less recent. Other nations were not so lucky, notably Brazil, particularly affected by a massacre of affected players.
Brazil pays a heavy price
Since March and his cruciate ligament rupture, Rodrygo knows he will be missed. The 25-year-old winger will not take his revenge on Qatar where he had difficulty making his mark. While he had a very good chance of replacing the Madrilenian, or even accompanying him even without his injury, Estevão will also not be at the summer high mass due to an ischio injury. Finally, Eder Militão is also part of the package due to a muscle injury. Very recently, it is Wesley who had to make a cross. And obviously, how can we not talk about Neymar, summoned for the first time in two and a half years, but whose calf requires us to remain cautious.
Among the big nations, Argentina has a few absences, but unlike its big neighbor, these are not major elements. Last called last November, Juan Foyth has been suffering from a ruptured Achilles tendon since January. Top scorer in Ligue 1 when he ruptured his knee ligament during training with his team, Joaquin Panichelli will not be in the World Cup either, like another Ligue 1 player in the person of Leonardo Balerdilast minute package due to his calf. Finally, it will be necessary to monitor the physical conditions of Nico Paz, Leandro Paredes, Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Emiliano Martínez and Nico Gonzalez. When called, they all end up in disparate states of form.
Germany is one of the selections most damaged by the months of competition. We knew Marc-André ter Stegen absent since the end of January and his loan to Girona due to a serious ischio injury. Serge Gnabry must be added to this list, victim of an adductor tear in mid-April, in addition to Lennart Karlpackage since Friday evening. With the rupture of the cruciate ligament which occurred last February on Samu AghehowaSpain thought they had eaten their black bread, but Fermín López also had to give up, after breaking his metatarsal in the last matches of the season. Infuriating for La Roja, who must remain vigilant with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino.
Packages at the Oranje
The Netherlands makes a grimace with the serious knee injury of Xavi Simons with Tottenham. The former Parisian will have to wait to play his first World Cup, he who will be absent for many months. His former teammate and captain at PSV, Jerdy Schouten deplores the same injury and will not return before 2027, when Jurriën Timber suffered from a groin injury and had to return home. Without Anthony Mandreawho would probably have been the understudy of Luca Zidane, selected, but whose form will be scrutinized after his jaw injury, nor the whimsical Youcef BelaïliAlgeria will not have all its forces available in America.
Ghana also has two major injuries in its ranks. First there is Mohammed Salisuin turn victim of a cruciate knee ligament since January. Over the same period, it is Mohammed Kudus who forfeited. The Tottenham winger suffered a long-term ischio injury. Finally, the last nation with two players less for medical reasons, Sweden does not present itself under the best auspices. Absent for over a year now, Dejan Kulusevski still hasn’t recovered from his knee surgery. Gustav Lundgren is also not on the list, the fault of a ruptured Achilles heel.
France holds its breath for Saliba
And then there are the countries that are not doing too badly, at least for the moment. We think in particular of France where only Hugo Ekitike missing. If since Monday June 1 and our revelations)(https://www.footmercato.net/a2726434742609074770-equipe-de-france-william-saliba-est-blesse), the Blues are trembling for the health of William Saliba, the Arsenal defender should hold his place. Organizing country, the United States will do without Cameron Carter-Vickersthe Celtic defender, injured in the Achilles tendon. Takumi Minaminoseriously injured with Monaco, is not part of the Japanese selection. In Ivory Coast, the unfortunate Clement Akpa had to withdraw at the last moment. The AJA defender injured his adductors during the penultimate day of the championship. In recent days, Jordan suffered a big blow with the withdrawal ofIbrahim Sabralike Paraguay, deprived of Julio Enciso at least for the first two matches. Marcelo Flores is officially forfeited with Canada.
He has been out since the CAN final and a ruptured cruciate ligament, Hamza Igamane Morocco will be missed during this World Cup, and the hard blows came at the last moment for the Atlas Lions. Nayef Aguerd And Abde Ezzalzouli no longer appear in the Moroccan squad since last night and are out of the 2026 World Cup. They were replaced by Marwane Saadane (Al Fateh) and Amine Sbai (Angers). For its part, Iran deplores the injury ofAli Gholizadeh. Another organizing country, Mexico will still have to cope without its replacement goalkeeper, Luis Malagon. Summoned with Austria, it’s a cold shower for Christoph Baumgartner. The RB Leipzig player was injured during the warm-up during the first preparation match and must give up, just like Giorgian de Arrascaetaanother last-minute injury, with Uruguay. Finally, England stood out above all for the non-call-up of several key players, reducing the package from Jarrad Branthwaite for anecdotal.
