Analysis— 5 min read
Three days out from the opening match, the injury picture at this World Cup is sharper than it has been all month — and while the very biggest names look likely to be available, the casualty list is already significant.
Lionel Messi is managing left hamstring fatigue picked up on May 26 with Inter Miami. He did not play in Argentina's 2-0 warm-up win over Honduras but Scaloni expects him to feature in at least one of the remaining pre-tournament friendlies. He is expected to be available for the title defence opener against Algeria on June 16.
Lamine Yamal's situation has also improved considerably. The Barcelona teenager tore his hamstring in April but Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed this week that he expects Yamal to be fit for the group opener against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15. "If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15," De la Fuente said.
Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah have both come through their respective injury scares and are fit for their nations' opening matches. France centre-back William Saliba, who had been flagged as a doubt with a back problem, was also cleared by Didier Deschamps.
Not everyone has been so fortunate. Brazil's Rodrygo misses the entire tournament, as does Eder Militao. Estevao, who was expected to start for the Selecao, was left off the preliminary squad after a serious hamstring injury in April. Germany lose Serge Gnabry, who tore his adductor in training, and Lennart Karl was ruled out late.
Canada have taken a damaging blow with Moïse Bombito — projected as a starting centre-back — now reportedly set to miss the tournament due to a leg injury. They also lost Alphonso Davies for a period after he hurt his hamstring during Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG, though the left-back has since recovered.
Argentina's Cristian Romero is included in the squad but is managing a knee problem and his readiness for the opening game remains uncertain.