The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives on Thursday, but several high-profile players will be absent from their national squads after being ruled out by injury or left off selection lists, according to the source text.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, listed as a 27-year-old England defender and described in the report as a Real Madrid defender, did not make the England squad after a season disrupted by injury and poor form at the Bernabéu. Manager Thomas Tuchel instead named Reece James, Djed Spence and Tino Livramento among his right-back options.
Cole Palmer missed almost three months of last season with a groin injury, limiting him to 11 goals and three assists in all competitions, and was omitted from England’s squad despite his record of scoring in the Euro 2024 final and the FIFA Club World Cup final. Harry Maguire, 33, also missed out on a third successive World Cup with England after a season that earned him a new Manchester United contract; Tuchel had said in March that Maguire was his “fifth-choice” center back, and Maguire said he was “absolutely shocked” by the omission.
Brazil forward João Pedro, who scored 20 goals in his first season at Chelsea, was overlooked by coach Carlo Ancelotti after failing to score in eight senior appearances for the Seleção. Brentford’s Igor Thiago and Brazil’s injury-hit talisman Neymar were selected instead, according to the report.
Spain’s squad also features notable absences. Dani Carvajal, 34, made 23 club appearances after a series of injuries but was passed over by coach Luis de la Fuente amid concerns over match fitness, despite de la Fuente calling him a “crucial figure”. Dean Huijsen, 21, was omitted and stirred controversy by reposting a social image placing him in LaLiga’s team of the season. France forward Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury in April that ended his season and will rule him out until the early months of 2027; he had scored 17 goals in 45 games for Liverpool following a £79 million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt and had broken into the France team for the first time.
