World Cup injury tracker: Neymar, Declan Rice and Christian Pulisic updates | OneFootball

One of the big injury sagas of World Cup 2026 appears to have come to a happy ending after Neymar made his long-awaited return for Brazil in their final group game against Scotland.

Neymar, who had been out of action after suffering a calf injury just three weeks out from the tournament, came off the bench for a tearful cameo as the Selecao topped Group C, meaning the 34-year-old could be set to play a greater role in Brazil’s knockouts campaign.

However, many nations are still sweating over major injury concerns to top players, with Declan Rice’s fitness being assessed ahead of their group-stage finale against Panama after feeling discomfort.

Christian Pulisic is meanwhile hoping to make a return for the United States in their final group outing against Turkey after being withdrawn at half-time in the host nation’s opening match.

See below for a full list of key injuries at this year’s World Cup.

Neymar (Brazil)

After missing Brazil’s first two World Cup matches with a calf problem, Neymar seems to have won his race against time to be fit after making an appearance off the bench against Scotland.

It remains to be seen if he will be deemed fit enough to start any Brazil’s knockout games - or whether Carlo Ancelotti will opt for the 34-year-old ahead of some of their younger talent.

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Neymar made his first appearance at the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday (Reuters)

Declan Rice (England)

Rice was removed on 72 minutes during England’s opening 4-2 win over Croatia after complaining of discomfort in his lower back and hamstring. As such, he was a doubt to start against Ghana, but he played the full 90 plus added time anyway as his side drew 0-0. Then, after the game, he was seen appearing to limp through the mixed zone while sporting bandaging on his calf.

Will he be fit for England’s final group-stage game, against Panama on Saturday? That now remains to be seen as England assess his fitness, with the Three Lions still chasing a top-spot finish in Group L.

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Declan Rice of England against Ghana (Getty)

Christian Pulisic (United States)

The co-hosts’ star player shone in the first-half of USA’s 4-1 win against Paraguay in Los Angeles but was withdrawn by Mauricio Pochettino at half-time due to a calf problem.

The US remained without Pulisic for their win over Australia, which sealed their place in the knockout stages.

“It was impossible for him today to play,” Pochettino said. “We hope that next game he will be available but if we want to win the competition we need the whole team.”

And it appears that Pulisic is nearing a returning, insisting he felt “great” ahead of their final group outing against Turkey.

“I'm hoping to play a part, for sure,” Pulisic said. “I’ll discuss that with my coaches and the medical staff. Obviously not a good chance I’ll probably go and play 90 (minutes) right away after you come back and miss a game, but we’ll see.”

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Christian Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time in USA’s opening win against Paraguay (Getty)

Bukayo Saka (England)

Saka has been managing a long-term Achilles problem and is yet to start a game at this World Cup, though has made cameos off the bench in both of England’s opening two group games against Croatia and Ghana.

"Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready," Tuchel said after the win over Croatia. "Once we get to the last game in the group it is the moment. He was strong yesterday [Tuesday] in training in small spaces. It's just a matter of if the game is open and up and down."

Tuchel has since said Saka is free of pain and could start for the Three Lions in their final group outing against Panama.

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Bukayo Saka allayed injury fears after featuring for England against Croatia (Getty)

Reece James (England)

James is another reportedly being checked by England’s medical staff on ahead of the Group L finale.

The Chelsea captain completed 90 minutes in Massachusetts against Ghana but has dealt with a variety of injury issues down the years.

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Reece James is also being checked by England medical staff (Getty)

Raphinha (Brazil)

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti on Friday and missed their group finale against Scotland.

He limped off at the end of the first half of the contest in Philadelphia and was seen walking gingerly out of the stadium after the game’s conclusion.

The Barcelona star has undergone treatment on a hamstring injury with the hope of him returning to the World Cup, the country's national team said Saturday.

Raphinha is set to go through an intensive treatment protocol with the aim of resuming normal activities in a short period of time, the confederation said.

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Raphinha limped off with a hamstring problem against Haiti (Reuters)

Andy Robertson (Scotland)

Scotland are sweating over the fitness of captain Andy Robertson as they await the conclusion of the group stage to determine if they have done enough to qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

He played the entirety of the first half of the defeat to Brazil but was replaced during the break with manager Steve Clarke bringing on Kieran Tierney instead. Robertson was later pictured in Scotland’s dugout with an ice pack on his right ankle as he witnessed his team slump to a heavier defeat then they would have liked.

After the game, Robertson gave a short update on his injury, and sounded slightly glum when saying: “Personally, time will tell. I need to take a day or two to see what has actually happened, and I'll do that."

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Andy Robertson picked up a knock during Scotland's defeat to Brazil (Reuters)

Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany)

The central defender will miss the remainder of the tournament and faces several months on the sidelines due to an ankle ligament injury. The setback was confirmed by the national team on 22 June, two days after their 2-1 Group E victory over Ivory Coast.

Schlotterbeck, a key figure in the German defence, sustained the injury early in the match and was substituted at half-time for Antonio Rüdiger. A subsequent scan revealed the Borussia Dortmund player had torn a ligament in his left ankle, specifically the medial collateral ligament.

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Nico Schlotterbeck’s tournament is over (Getty)

Cristian Romero (Argentina)

Argentina centre-back Romero was forced off during Argentina’s win over Austria after picking up a knee problem, giving cause for concern regarding his future involvement this World Cup.

The Spurs man saw his foot stamped on by Marcel Sabitzer but began holding his knee, which was not subject to any contact.

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Cristian Romero was forced off for Argentina (Reuters)

Alphonso Davies (Canada)

Canada’s captain has sat out the entire group stage for the host nation due to a hamstring problem.

While he was able to return to the bench in Canada’s romping of Qatar, he did not make a cameo and was then once again completely absent from the squad for their third match against Switzerland.

“Alphonso wasn’t ready yet, so I was using him a little bit as a decoy,” manager Jesse Marsch said after the game. “He will be ready for the next match.”

Despite his absence, Canada have successfully navigated the group and will play in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

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Alphonso Davies missed Canada’s group stage (Reuters)

Aaron Hickey (Scotland)

Aaron Hickey trained alone at Scotland’s final session in Miami ahead of the World Cup clash with Brazil on Wednesday.

The right-back was a doubt for the Group C clash as he deals with load management issues but did manage to make the bench for the 3-0 defeat.

Hickey came off in the 1-0 Group C win over Haiti and was absent for the 1-0 defeat by Morocco on Friday at the Boston Stadium.

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Aaron Hickey trained alone at Scotland's final session before the Brazil clash (PA)

Tomas Soucek (Czech Republic)

West Ham midfielder was stretchered off after sustaining a severe ankle injury when colliding with Mexico’s veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Czech Republic’s defeat to the host nation confirmed their World Cup elimination meaning the injury will not have an impact on his involvement future games at the tournaments, though it could rule him out for the beginning of the normal season.

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Tomas Soucek was stretchered off in Czech Republic’s final group game (Getty)

Wilfried Singo (Ivory Coast)

The Ivory Coast right-back was substituted during the second half against Germany, with Guela Doue coming on in his place after 82 minutes.

Singo was seen clutching his left hamstring and sat on the bench in tears, covering his face his orange Elephants jersey.

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Wilfried Singo receives treatment against Germany (Getty)

Tino Livramento (England)

England were dealt their first real injury blow of the campaign after Newcastle defender Livramento was ruled out for the tournament with a calf injury.

Tuchel could have called up a raft of other full-back options, including Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall. However the England manager chose to bring Trevoh Chalobah, a centre-back, into the fold.

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England’s Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)

Ismael Kone

Canada midfielder Ismael Kone has undergone successful surgery to repair severe fractures in his lower left leg, after sustaining a horror injury during Thursday’s match against Qatar.

The injury, which involved both the tibia and fibula bones, means the 24-year-old will miss the remainder of the Fifa World Cup 2026 campaign.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch described the immediate aftermath, recalling he "could hear the bone snap."

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Ismael Singo was stretchered off after breaking his leg (Reuters)

Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Another confirmed absentee, Tottenham forward Kudus will miss the World Cup because of a quadricep injury.

The 25-year-old has not featured since January, in a blow to Ghana - who are in England’s group.

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Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out of the World Cup (Getty)

Wataru Endo (Japan)

Liverpool defensive midfielder Endo injured his foot in February and has been ruled out of the World Cup - and the 33-year-old has immediately retired from international duty.

“Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever,” he said. “From here on, I’ll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans.”

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Wataru Endo has not played for Liverpool since February (Getty)

Jurrien Timber (Netherlands)

The Arsenal defender had been out since March due to a groin problem, but came on in the second half of the Champions League final against PSG.

However, the Dutch FA believe Timber had “not recovered sufficiently” to take part in the tournament in a “medically responsible manner.”

As such, Timber has left the Dutch squad and been ruled out of the World Cup.

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Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the World Cup (Getty)

Lennart Karl (Germany)

The 18-year-old was expected to be one of the young stars of this tournament but suffered a torn thigh muscle in training, ruling him out of the World Cup.

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Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup (Getty)

Billy Gilmour (Scotland)

It was heartbreak for Scotland’s creative midfielder Gilmour, as he suffered an injury in their warm-up victory against Curacao.

The 24-year-old Napoli player picked up a knee injury in the 4-1 win, with teammate Scott McTominay saying he was “absolutely devastated” by the news.

Gilmour was, however, in camp to support his teammates ahead of their opening win against Haiti on Saturday.

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Billy Gilmour suffered a knee injury in Scotland’s warm-up game against Curacao (PA)