World Cup injury tracker: Latest news on Modric, Raphinha and other key potential absentees

The World Cup is a chance to see some of the planet’s best players compete on the biggest stage of them all.

However, like any other competition, it is not immune to the injury bug. Several key names have already been ruled out with long-term issues, others face a race against time to be ready for the trip to North America, while some are battling back to fitness before the end of their club’s domestic seasons.

There will be 48 countries at the World Cup for the first time and the maximum squad size has grown from 23 to 26, meaning that the pool of players hoping for a call-up this summer has drastically increased.

Here, The Athletic takes you through the key active injuries of all 48 nations in our tracker, which will be updated in the build-up to the tournament and while it is ongoing.

Group A

Mexico

• Edson Alvarez (CB) — Mexico captain underwent ankle surgery in February. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Julian Araujo (RB) — Out with a hamstring injury since March, bringing his loan spell at Celtic to an early end. Last national team appearance: July 2025
• Rodrigo Huescas (RB) — Copenhagen confirmed that Huescas underwent surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) in October and would be out for the season. Last national team appearance: September 2025
• Marcel Ruiz (CM) — Toluca midfielder suffered an ACL tear in March but returned in April after opting to not undergo surgery. Last national team appearance: February 2026
• Cesar Huerta (LW) — Underwent surgery on his pelvis in November. Anderlecht confirmed he underwent an additional operation in March. Last national team appearance: October 2025

South Africa

South Korea

• Hwang In-beom (CM) — Ankle ligament injury picked up playing for Feyenoord against Excelsior on March 15. Last national team appearance: October 2025.
• Park Yong-woo (DM) — Tore ACL while playing for Abu Dhabi-based club Al Ain on September 25. Last national team appearance: September 2025
• Lee Jae-sung (AM) — Sustained toe injury playing for Mainz in April. Last national team appearance: March 2026.

Czech Republic

• Jindrich Stanek (GK) — Slavia Prague goalkeeper has been out since February 25 with an undisclosed injury. Last national team appearance: September 2025
• Vitezslav Jaros (GK) — Liverpool goalkeeper had his loan spell at Ajax ended early by what the Merseyside club described as a “serious knee injury.” Last national team appearance: September 2025
• David Zima (CB) — Sustained ankle injury in March and has not played since. Last national team appearance: March 2025
• Matej Rynes (CM) — Slavia Prague midfielder suffered a muscle injury in April. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Group B

Canada

• Alfie Jones (CB) — The English-born defender received his first cap for Canada in November after his eligibility was approved, but sustained an ankle injury playing for Middlesbrough on December 26 and underwent surgery the following month. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Sam Adekugbe (LB) — Suffered an Achilles tendon tear while playing for Canada in June last year and has not played since, leaving World Cup participation in doubt. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Alistair Johnston (CB) — Celtic centre-back underwent October surgery for a hamstring injury that had been plaguing him since August. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Ralph Priso (DM) — Sustained a left hamstring strain playing for Canada on March 31, the Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed the defender would be out for eight to 10 weeks. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Promise David (ST) — Underwent surgery for a hip muscle injury sustained on February 21 playing for Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. Expected to miss “several months”. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Adrian Leon Barisic (CB) — An adductor injury has kept the Braga centre-back out since early March. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Nikola Katic (CB) — German side Schalke confirmed on April 1 that a knee injury would sideline Katic for several weeks and that he was unlikely to feature again this domestic season. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Edin Dzeko (ST) — The Bosnia captain and Katic’s Schalke team-mate has been out with a shoulder injury sustained against Italy on March 31. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Qatar

Switzerland

• Eray Comert (CB) — Picked up an abdominal muscle issue playing for Valencia on April 11. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Miro Muheim (LB) — Suffered a right ankle injury playing for Hamburg on April 18, ruled out for rest of the season. Last national team appearance: March 2023
• Zeki Amdouni (ST) — Burnley striker tore his ACL in pre-season and has not appeared since. Last national team appearance: June 2025

Group C

Brazil

• Alisson (GK) — Liverpool No 1 has been sidelined since March 20 with a hamstring injury. Last national team appearance: September 2025
• Vanderson (RB) — The full-back sustained a hamstring injury playing for Monaco on March 6 and subsequently underwent surgery, putting his World Cup in doubt. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Eder Militao (CB) — Real Madrid defender sustained a left hamstring injury in late April and will miss the end of the season. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Raphinha (LW) — Barcelona confirmed the winger sustained a right hamstring injury while playing for Brazil on March 26, ruling him out for five weeks. Last national team appearance: March 26
• Rodrygo (RW) — Tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee playing for Real Madrid in early March, ruled out of the World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Estevao (RW) — Serious doubt over the Chelsea winger’s World Cup participation due to a hamstring injury suffered on April 18. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Estevao is in his first season at Chelsea (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco

• Nayef Aguerd (CB) — Underwent surgery in early March to treat a persistent groin issue. Last national team appearance: January 2026
• Hamza Igamane (ST) — Striker tore his ACL while playing for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final on January 26 and will miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: January 2025

Haiti

• Johny Placide (GK) — French club Bastia confirmed that the Haiti captain underwent surgery for recurring knee issues at the end of March. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Carlens Arcus (RB) — The defender has not featured since being substituted playing for French side Angers against Nice on March 14. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Scotland

• Scott McKenna (CB) — Suffered an adductor injury playing for Dinamo Zagreb on April 18. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Group D

United States

• Jonathan Klinsmann (GK) — Sustained a broken neck playing for Cesena on April 18 and underwent successful surgery the following week. Last national team call-up: March 2026
• Cameron Carter-Vickers (CB) — Sustained an Achilles injury in October, with then-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers saying that he would be out for between “three and five months”. Last national team appearance: March 2025
• John Tolkin (LB) — Picked up an “inner ligament injury to his knee” playing for German club Holstein Kiel on April 10, out for multiple weeks. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Sergino Dest (RB) — Sustained a thigh injury in PSV’s game against AZ on March 8, said he’s “convinced” he will be ready for the World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• James Sands (CM) — Underwent ankle surgery in March, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Quinn Sullivan (CM) — Suffered an ACL tear playing for the Philadelphia Union in September. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Patrick Agyemang (ST) — Sustained a serious Achilles injury while in action for Derby County on April 6, and will not play at the World Cup. Last national team appearance: April 2026

Agyemang had been in good form for Derby (Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images)

Paraguay

• Mathias Villasanti (DM) — Has been out since rupturing his ACL playing for Brazilian club Gremio in August. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Diego Gomez (CM) — The Brighton midfielder picked up a knee injury on April 17, though head coach Fabian Hurzeler said, “it is not as bad as some of us thought”. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Miguel Almiron (RW) — Out since April 12 with a knee injury that Atlanta United said would sideline him for 1-2 weeks. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Australia

• Callum Elder (LB) — Had knee surgery in early March, with a recovery timeframe of five to six weeks. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Lewis Miller (RB) — The Blackburn Rovers defender ruptured his Achilles on February 14, and is set for around nine months out and will miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Ryan Teague (DM) — Has missed two Melbourne City games with a knee injury sustained in early April, expected to miss one more week. Last national team appearance: September 2025
• Nicholas D’Agostino (ST) — Sustained a knee injury on February 28, expected to miss around six weeks. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Noah Botic (ST) — Austria Wien forward broke his ankle in training in late November (also tore the syndesmotic and medial ligaments), expected to miss six to nine months. Last international call-up: September 2025

Turkey

• Arda Guler (AM) — Suffered a right hamstring injury playing for Real Madrid on April 21, ruled out for the rest of the season, but hoping to return for the World Cup. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Group E

Germany

• Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (GK) — Underwent hamstring surgery on February 7, just over two weeks after joining Girona on loan from Barcelona. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Tom Bischof (CM) — Bayern Munich confirmed on April 15 that the 20-year-old had suffered a left calf injury. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Lennart Karl (AM) — Bischof’s club team-mate sustained “muscle fibre tear in the back of his right thigh” in early April. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Karim Adeyemi (RW) — Missed Borussia Dortmund’s game against Hoffenheim on April 18 with a muscular issue. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Serge Gnabry (ST) — Sustained an adductor tear in his right thigh, confirmed on April 22 that he would miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Curacao

Ivory Coast

• Evann Guessand (RW) — Sustained knee injury playing for Crystal Palace on April 16, expected to miss several weeks. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Ecuador

• Gonzalo Valle (GK) — Picked up a knee injury in action for Ecuador on March 31. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Denil Castillo (CM) — Midtjylland midfielder withdrew injured from March’s Ecuador squad. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Patrik Mercado (CM) — Tore ACL playing for Independiente del Valle on March 22. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Nilson Angulo (LW) — Sunderland winger has been out since March 8 with a muscle injury. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Group F

Netherlands

• Mark Flekken (GK) — Missed Bayer Leverkusen’s game against Koln in late April with “muscular problems”, per the club. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Matthijs de Ligt (CB) — Sidelined since November 30 with a back injury, uncertain whether the 26-year-old will return this season. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Jurrien Timber (RB) — Sustained an ankle injury playing for Arsenal on March 13. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Jerdy Schouten (DM) — Sustained ACL tear in early April, will miss the rest of the season and World Cup. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Justin Kluivert (AM) — Underwent knee surgery on January 6. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Xavi Simons (AM) — Suffered a knee injury playing for Tottenham Hotspur on April 25, which was confirmed to be an ACL. Last national team appearance: March 20
  

  Simons’ will miss the World Cup ((Michael Steele/Getty Images)

• Memphis Depay (ST) — Sustained a hamstring injury playing for Corinthians. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Japan

• Koki Machida (CB) — Hoffenheim defender sustained an ACL tear in late August. Last national team appearance: June 2025
• Wataru Endo (DM) — Sustained an ankle ligament injury playing for Liverpool on February 11. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Takumi Minamino (ST) — Tore ACL in Monaco’s game against Auxerre on December 22. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Sweden

• Emil Krafth (RB) — Newcastle defender underwent knee surgery in February, ruling him out for the season. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Gustav Lundgren (RW) — Suffered an Achilles injury playing for Swedish team GAIS on April 6. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Tunisia

• Montassar Talbi (CB) — Sustained a calf injury playing for Lorient in early April. Last national team appearance: January 2026
• Dylan Bronn (CB) — Servette defender picked up a knee issue in February, has returned to training. Last national team appearance: January 2026
• Hannibal Mejbri (AM) — Suffered a hamstring injury playing for Burnley on March 21. Last national team appearance: January 2026
• Elias Saad (LW) — Frankfurt winger sustained a right thigh injury in action for German team St. Pauli. Last national team appearance: April 2026

Group G

Belgium

• Thibaut Courtois (GK) — Sustained a thigh injury against Manchester City on March 17, out for four to six weeks. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Nathan De Cat (CM) — Anderlecht confirmed on April 13 that the 17-year-old would miss four to six weeks due to an ankle injury. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Romelu Lukaku (ST) — Has been dealing with a hamstring injury all season, last featured for Napoli on March 6. Last international appearance: June 2025

Egypt

• Mohamed Hamdi (LB) — Tore his ACL playing for Egypt at AFCON on January 5, will miss the World Cup. Last international appearance: January 2026
• Mohamed Salah (RW) — Liverpool player sustained a hamstring injury on April 25. Last international appearance: January 2026
• Islam Issa (LW) — Will miss the World Cup after tearing his left ACL in action against Spain on March 31. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Iran

• Majid Hosseini (CB) — Has been dealing with chronic Achilles tendinitis since August, with Kayerispor confirming in February that he would miss at least six more months after surgery. Last national team appearance: November 2025

New Zealand

• Nando Pijnaker (CB) — Dislocated his right shoulder playing for Auckland FC on April 11. Last national team appearance: November 2024
• Francis de Vries (LB) — Injured his right calf playing for New Zealand on March 27, expected to miss six weeks. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Group H

Spain

• Mikel Merino (CM) — Underwent surgery on a right foot injury on February 1, expected to miss the rest of the season. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Lamine Yamal (RW) — Sustained a hamstring injury playing for Barcelona on April 22. Expected to miss the rest of the season but be fit for the World Cup. Last national team appearance: March 2026

(Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images)

• Samu Aghehowa (ST) — Set to miss the World Cup after tearing his ACL on February 9. Last national team appearance. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Cape Verde

• Bruno Varela (GK) — Confirmed on April 4 that he would miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after undergoing surgery. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Jamiro Monteiro (CM) — Dutch club PEC Zwolle confirmed on February 6 that the 32-year-old would miss multiple weeks with a knee injury but would not endanger his World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Saudi Arabia

• Waleed Al-Ahmed (CB) — Tore his ACL playing for Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiyah in late March, will miss the World Cup. Last international appearance: December 2025

Uruguay

• Jose Maria Gimenez (CB) — Uruguay captain has not played since April 4 due to a muscle injury. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Joaquin Piquerez (LB) — Underwent surgery on his right ankle after sustaining an injury playing for Uruguay against England on March 27. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Giorgian de Arrascaeta (AM) — Underwent surgery on a fracture in his right collarbone on April 30. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Group I

France

• Manu Kone (CM) — Withdrew from March’s squad after appearing to sustain a hamstring injury playing for Roma on March 19. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Kylian Mbappe (ST) — Was forced off with muscular discomfort playing for Real Madrid on April 24. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Hugo Ekitike (ST) — Set to miss several months after rupturing Achilles tendon. Last national team appearance: March 2026

(Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

Senegal

• Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) — Dealing with a quadriceps injury sustained in April. Last national team appearance: January 2026
• Pape Matar Sarr (CM) — Tottenham midfielder picked up a shoulder issue in April. Last National team appearance: March 2026

Iraq

• Youssef Amyn (LW) — AEK Larnaca winger has been absent since picking up a hamstring injury in late March, per Transfermarkt. Last international appearance: April 2026

Norway

Group J

Argentina

• Cristian Romero (CB) — Tottenham captain will miss the rest of the domestic season with a knee injury sustained on April 12. Last national team appearance: April 2026
• Juan Foyth (CB) — Ruptured Achilles tendon playing for Villarreal on January 24, set to miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Gabriel Rojas (LB) — Racing Club confirmed on April 1 that Rojas had sustained a muscle tear in his right thigh. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Lautaro Martinez (ST) — Inter striker suffered a left calf strain in early April. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Joaquin Panichelli (ST) — Tore ACL in Argentina training in March, will miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Algeria

• Luca Zidane (GK) — Granada goalkeeper fractured his jaw and chin on April 26. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Anthony Mandrea (GK) — Suffered a dislocated shoulder that leaves him doubtful for the World Cup, per Ouest France. Last national team appearance: December 2025
• Melvin Mastil (GK) — Dealing with a hernia sustained in mid-April, according to L’Equipe.
• Nabil Bentaleb (CM) — Lille stated on April 17 that the 31-year-old underwent a minor surgical procedure for an infection. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Youcef Belaili (LW) — Sustained a cruciate ligament tear in November 2025. Last international appearance: October 2025
• Amine Gouiri (ST) — The Marseille forward suffered a hamstring injury in late April. Last national team appearance: March 2023

Austria

• Nicolas Seiwald (DM) — Missed RB Leipzig’s game against Union Berlin on April 24 through illness. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Jordan

• Adham Al-Quraishi (RB) — Sustained an ACL tear playing for Jordan at the Arab Cup in December. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Yazan Al-Naimat (ST) — Like Al-Qureshi, tore his ACL in action for Jordan at the Arab Cup.
• Ali Olwan (ST) — Sustained an undisclosed injury playing for Qatari club Al Sailiya on February 5, has not played since. Last national team appearance: December 2025
• Tammer Bany (ST) — West Bromwich Albion said on December 30 that the forward would miss around four months due to surgery on a ruptured thigh. Last international team appearance: November 2025

Group K

Portugal

• Ruben Dias (CB) — The Manchester City defender has not featured since being substituted against Real Madrid on March 17 with a hamstring injury. Last national appearance: November 2025
• Tomas Araujo (CB) — Missed Benfica’s game against Moreirense with a left calf injury, per Portuguese outlet Record. Last national team appearance: March 2026

DR Congo

• Gedeon Kalulu (CB) — Sustained a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear in early February playing for Aris Limassol and is expected to miss between four and five months, according to Cypriot media. Last national team appearance: December 2025

Uzbekistan

• Khusniddin Alikulov (CB) — Will miss the World Cup after suffering an ACL tear on January 19, according to local media. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Jaloliddin Masharipov (LW) — Iranian club Esteghal confirmed on January 31 that the 32-year-old winger underwent surgery abroad. Last national team appearance: June 2025

Colombia

• Juan Cabal (LB) — Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Cabal is set to miss the rest of the season with an adductor injury. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Juan Fernando Quintero (AM) — Will miss around four weeks after sustaining a muscle injury, per Colombian media. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Yaser Asprilla (RW) — Has not featured since sustaining a knee injury in action for Galatasaray on April 8. Last national team appearance: November 2025

Group L

England

• Jarrad Branthwaite (CB) — Suffered a hamstring injury playing for Everton on April 19. Last national team appearance: June 2024
• Levi Cowill (CB) — Sustained a torn ACL in Chelsea training on August 4. Last national team appearance: June 2026
• Reece James (RB) — Picked up a hamstring injury in mid-March that was expected to sideline the 26-year-old for several weeks. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Tino Livramento (RB) — Dealing with a thigh injury, uncertain whether he will play again this season or is fit for the World Cup. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Jordan Henderson (CM) — Has been sidelined since late March with an undisclosed injury. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Anthony Gordon (LW) — Missed Newcastle’s last two matches with a hip injury. Last national team appearance: March 2026
• Dominic Solanke (ST) — suffered a muscle injury against Wolves on April 25. Last national team appearance: March 2026

Croatia

• Josko Gvardiol (CB) — Manchester City defender underwent surgery for a fractured tibia in his right leg in January. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Luka Vuskovic (CB) — Hamburg defender picked up a knee injury in April and has missed the team’s last three matches. Last national team appearance: April 2026
• Luka Modric (CM) — AC Milan confirmed that the 40-year-old had undergone surgery for a fractured cheekbone on April 27, will miss the rest of the season but is expected to return for the World Cup. Last national team appearance: April 2026

(Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images)

• Toni Fruk (AM) — Sustained a back injury playing for Croatian team Rijeka on April 12, per Croatian media. Last national team appearance: April 2026

Ghana

• Mohammed Salisu (CB) — Suffered a torn ACL playing for Monaco against Lyon on January 3, expected to miss the World Cup. Last national team appearance: October 2025
• Tariq Lamptey (RB) — Tore ACL in action for Fiorentina on September 21. Last national team appearance: October 2024
• Abu Francis (CM) — Sustained a double leg fracture playing for Ghana against Japan on November 14. Last national team appearance: November 2025
• Mohammed Kudus (RW) — Has not played since suffering a quad injury in action for Tottenham on January 4. Last national team appearance: October 2025

Panama

• Edward Cedeno (DM) — Albacete midfielder underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in late January. Last national team appearance: October 2025