World Cup injury news latest as Neymar, Yamal and Saka face race against time to return

FootballSports
13 Jun 2026 • 7:27 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

World Cup injury news latest as Neymar, Yamal and Saka face race against time to return

  • Brazil's star player Neymar is expected to miss their opening 2026 World Cup match against Morocco due to a grade two calf injury sustained three weeks before the tournament, though coach Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic for his return against Haiti.
  • Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, recovering from a left hamstring injury, has returned to full training and is anticipated to feature, potentially for limited minutes, in their first game against Cape Verde.
  • Co-hosts USA and Canada face fitness concerns for their key players; Christian Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time during USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay with a calf problem, while Alphonso Davies missed Canada's opening draw but shows positive signs of recovery from a hamstring injury.
  • Several prominent players are confirmed to miss the tournament due to injury, including Ghana's Mohammed Kudus (quadricep), Japan's Wataru Endo (foot), and Scotland's Billy Gilmour (knee), who suffered his injury in a warm-up match.
  • Other nations are managing star player fitness, with England's Bukayo Saka dealing with an Achilles issue and France's William Saliba undergoing individual training due to back pain ahead of their respective opening fixtures.

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