World Cup 2026 Injury Tracker: Neymar Misses Opener as Late Withdrawals Reshape Tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off across North America, but the expanded 48-team tournament is already testing the depth of several international heavyweights. A brutal wave of late injuries and urgent fitness races has reshaped rosters in the final hours before kickoff, forcing managers into last-minute tactical overhauls. While some nations are welcoming recovering stars back into the fold, others have been forced to send key contributors home before a single ball is kicked.[5][6]

Brazil’s preparations have been heavily disrupted by the fitness of their all-time leading scorer, Neymar. The 34-year-old sustained a grade 2 calf injury shortly after being selected for the squad and has been officially ruled out of the Seleção’s opening match against Morocco in New York. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has kept Neymar on the roster, expressing optimism that the forward will recover in time for Brazil's second group-stage fixture against Haiti.[1]

Neymar’s absence compounds an already severe injury crisis for the Brazilian squad. Before arriving in the United States, the team lost Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Éder Militão to devastating knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. Chelsea’s teenage sensation Estêvão was also forced to withdraw due to a severe hamstring tear, leaving Ancelotti to rely on a heavily rotated attacking line for the opening matches.[5][6]

Japan suffered a devastating blow just three days before their Group F opener against the Netherlands in Dallas. Captain and defensive midfield anchor Wataru Endo was dropped from the squad after failing to recover from a lingering left-foot injury originally sustained in February. The late withdrawal prompted Moriyasu Hajime to make a difficult tactical pivot just as the tournament began.[2]

In the wake of his exclusion, the 33-year-old Endo immediately announced his retirement from international football, stating he had done everything possible to recover but had no regrets. Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Shuto Machino was called up as his replacement, while Ajax defender Itakura Ko has been trusted with the captain's armband for the Samurai Blue.[2]

The Netherlands, Japan's opening opponent, faced their own late heartbreak when Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber was forced to withdraw from the squad just hours before the tournament commenced. Medical staff determined that Timber had not sufficiently recovered from a persistent groin injury to compete safely, prompting his departure from the team's New York training camp.[3]

Dutch manager Ronald Koeman utilized the FIFA rule allowing injury replacements up to 24 hours before a team's first match, calling up Lutsharel Geertruida to fill the defensive void. The Netherlands are already navigating the tournament without key playmakers Xavi Simons and Matthijs de Ligt, both of whom suffered severe injuries during the European club season.[3][6]

Amid the wave of withdrawals, some nations received massive boosts on the eve of their opening fixtures. Spain welcomed teenage sensation Lamine Yamal back to full training, easing fears over his availability ahead of their clash with Cape Verde. Similarly, Germany confirmed that 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has fully recovered from a calf injury and is fit to start their opening match.[4]

Host nation Mexico, however, is dealing with a significant setback after starting goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón was ruled out of the tournament due to an Achilles tendon rupture. The injury forces a major defensive rebuild for the co-hosts, who are carrying the immense pressure of performing on home soil.[6]

Other notable absences include France's Hugo Ekitiké, who is recovering from an Achilles rupture, and Germany's Serge Gnabry, sidelined with an adductor tear. Meanwhile, Panama is sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who remains doubtful for their opener against Ghana due to a muscular issue but recently returned to light training.[6][7]

Analysts and medical professionals point to the grueling European club calendar as the primary driver of this pre-tournament injury wave. With players arriving in North America carrying the cumulative fatigue of a congested season, managers will have to rely heavily on their extended 26-man rosters to survive the physical demands of a month-long, 48-team World Cup.[5][6]