Raphinha, Phil Foden join growing injury list ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Brazil's Raphinha and England's Phil Foden joined a growing injury list ahead of World Cup 2026. Several big names now face fitness concerns before the tournament.

In Short

• Raphinha suffers right hamstring injury during Brazil-France match
• Phil Foden injured in England's friendly against Uruguay
• Cristiano Ronaldo among players with fitness concerns

The injury list ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to grow, with Raphinha and Phil Foden the latest high-profile names to suffer setbacks. With several key players already sidelined, concerns are mounting for national teams just months before the tournament.

Foden’s injury came during England’s friendly against Uruguay, where a heavy challenge from Ronald Araujo left the Manchester City midfielder in visible pain. Despite a VAR check, no booking was issued, and Foden was forced off shortly after, replaced by Cole Palmer. The incident drew a strong reaction from England boss Thomas Tuchel, who was visibly frustrated on the sidelines.

For Foden, the setback comes at a crucial time as he looks to cement his place both at Manchester City and in the England setup. After a promising start to the season, his form had dipped, and the Uruguay game was seen as an opportunity to make a statement — one that ended prematurely.

RAPHINHA INJURY WORRIES BARCA, BRAZIL

Raphinha’s injury has added to Brazil’s growing concerns ahead of the World Cup. The Barcelona winger was forced off in the first half of Brazil’s 1-2 loss to France, with scans later confirming a right hamstring injury.

The 29-year-old is set to return to FC Barcelona for treatment and is expected to be out until May. Early reports suggest it is the same hamstring issue that troubled him earlier in the season, raising fears of another prolonged absence.

His absence will not only impact Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures but also disrupt Brazil’s preparations, given his importance in the attacking setup.

BIG NAMES INJURY LIST GROWS

The list of injured players ahead of the World Cup continues to expand, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the biggest names dealing with fitness concerns. Several key players across nations are either ruled out or racing against time to recover.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• Rodrygo (Brazil) – ruled out
• Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)
• Eder Militao (Brazil)
• Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands)
• Nico Williams (Spain)
• Mikel Merino (Spain)
• Fabian Ruiz (Spain)
• Edson Alvarez (Mexico)
• Takumi Minamino (Japan)
• Wataru Endo (Japan)
• James Maddison (England) – ruled out
• Jack Grealish (England)
• Levi Colwill (England) – ruled out
• Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
• Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)
• Alphonso Davies (Canada)

With injuries piling up across squads, teams will be closely monitoring recovery timelines as the World Cup approaches. Managing player fitness could prove just as crucial as tactics in the lead-up to football’s biggest stage.

- Ends