Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Kieran Jackson

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  • Co-hosts USA and Canada face fitness concerns for their key players; Christian Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time during USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay with a calf problem, while Alphonso Davies missed Canada's opening draw but shows positive signs of recovery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.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.