Missing out on the World Cup is a soccer player’s worst nightmare.
The tournament only rolls around every four years and is seen as the pinnacle of the sport, with legends forged within its confines.
Sport, however, has a tendency to be very cruel indeed. Injuries are part and parcel of any sport and soccer is sadly no different.
The fixture schedule at club level has increased in recent years and players have had to carry the load as a result. Injuries, sadly, are an inevitable byproduct of that, even with top clubs having the financial power to build bigger squads.
Indeed, some of the biggest stars in soccer will be forced to miss the 2026 World Cup later this month, and here’s a look at them.
Group A
Mexico: Rodrigo Huescas, Luis Malagon
Group B
Canada: Marcelo Flores
Group C
Brazil: Vanderson, Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Estevao Willian
Scotland: Billy Gilmour
Morocco: Hamza Igamane
Group D
USA: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Patrick Agyemang, Johnny Cardoso
Australia: Riley McGree, Lewis Miller
Group E
Germany: Serge Gnabry, Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Group F
Netherlands: Xavi Simons, Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten
Japan: Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma
Group H
Spain: Fermin Lopez, Samu Aghehowa
Group I
France: Hugo Ekitike
Group L
Ghana: Mohammed Kudus
Read more:
Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony won’t be held in the US
Why World Cup games could be stopped mid-game for at least 30 minutes in the USA
Every step of the USMNT’s potential route to the World Cup 2026 final
