With under two months until the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, a spate of late-season injuries — especially hamstring problems and one ruptured Achilles — has placed key players like Lamine Yamal, Cristian Romero and Eder Militao in doubt while Hugo Ekitike is confirmed out, forcing nations into last-minute fitness gambles and selection headaches.
World Cup injury crisis: immediate impact and who’s in doubt
The closing weeks of the club season have produced fresh headaches for national coaches. Several high-profile players have been sidelined by hamstring strains and more serious damage, shrinking the margin for error before squads are finalised. Some injuries may resolve in time; others already remove talent from contention. Teams must balance risk, recovery timelines and tactical plans with limited windows for rehabilitation.
Lamine Yamal — Spain (hamstring)
Barcelona confirmed Yamal suffered a left hamstring (biceps femoris) injury and will miss the remainder of the club season. Club medical guidance indicates conservative treatment, and the expectation is he could be available for the World Cup. For Spain, Yamal’s presence is transformational: his width, dribbling and decision-making were central to Euro success. If fit, he remains a starting-level talent; if rushed back too quickly, Spain could lose one of their best attacking outlets.
Cristian Romero — Argentina (knee concern)
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero exited with a knee problem and faces several weeks out, reportedly up to eight. He does not appear to require surgery, which keeps the door open for a June recovery. Argentina’s defensive cohesion is built around Romero’s aggression and reading of the game; his absence would force tactical adjustments and place extra weight on remaining centre-backs for set-piece and counter-press duties.
Arda Guler — Turkey (hamstring)
Real Madrid have sidelined Guler for the rest of their season with a hamstring issue in his right biceps femoris. Sources close to the player are optimistic he can recover in time for the tournament. Turkey’s attacking rhythm and creativity benefit from Guler’s link play; his timeline will determine whether he can participate without being a compromised option off the bench.
Mikel Merino — Spain (broken foot)
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino underwent surgery after suffering a broken foot in training earlier in the year. Progress is positive, with club updates indicating steady rehabilitation, but match fitness remains the unknown. Merino’s control and transitional play are useful for Spain’s midfield balance; coaches must judge post-injury sharpness rather than reputation alone when naming final squads.
Eder Militao — Brazil (hamstring)
Real Madrid report Militao has a muscle injury to the left biceps femoris and will miss the rest of the season while his recovery is monitored. Militao’s physicality is a key part of Brazil’s defensive structure; if he recovers fully, he can still be a first-choice centre-back, but any lingering tightness would be a liability in the tournament’s high-intensity schedule.
Hugo Ekitike — France (ruptured Achilles) — OUT
Ekitike suffered a ruptured Achilles and has undergone surgery, ruling him out for the foreseeable future and eliminating World Cup hopes. For France, this is a personnel loss rather than a structural one given their depth, but it removes an attacking option with unique directness and aerial threat that had begun to influence selection conversations.
Estevao Willian — Brazil (hamstring)
Chelsea’s teenager suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of a recent match and will miss the rest of the club season. That absence severely damages his chances of making Brazil’s final squad, denying them a youthful, explosive winger option and forcing selectors to prioritise players with uninterrupted match rhythms.
Pattern and prognosis: why hamstrings are dominating the headlines
Hamstring strains are recurrent at season’s end because players are fatigued after long campaigns and the muscle is vulnerable during high-speed actions. Typical recovery windows vary: minor strains can heal in a couple of weeks; moderate tears take several weeks to months. Teams and medical staffs will favour conservative rehab for tournament readiness, but that often means missing the final weeks of club competition and limited match prep ahead of June.
What this means for national teams
Coaches face three choices: select injured players on medical optimism, opt for fully fit alternatives, or leave roster slots flexible where permitted until final deadlines. Selecting a returning star can pay dividends if they regain form, but it risks a squad spot on a player who isn’t match-ready. Conversely, choosing fit but less talented backups sacrifices ceiling for reliability.
What to watch next
Medical updates and final squad announcements over the coming weeks will determine the true scale of the problem. Key indicators to monitor: return-to-running milestones, players’ responses to high-intensity training, and whether federations name provisional squads that include injured stars. Expect tactical contingency planning from top nations if recovery timelines remain uncertain.
Bottom line
The proximity of the World Cup amplifies the stakes of each late-season injury. Some players may stage timely recoveries and still influence the tournament; others are already confirmed out.
National teams that manage medical risk pragmatically and have ready, in-form alternatives will be best positioned when the group stage whistle blows.
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