World Cup 2022: Which players will miss the tournament through injury?

World Cup 2022 might be the most stressful yet for players sweating on injury recovery in time for the tournament. There are already high-profile misses, with plenty of stars ruled out of Qatar, with several world-class players facing anxious waits over their fitness. 

It's nothing new. The nervous few weeks before an international tournament are part and parcel of football cliche now but with domestic football having ended just a week before the World Cup commences, this is a more nail-biting time than normal. World Cup squads have had their limits stretched to 26 in order to cope with the added injuries, with head coaches presented with the agonising decision of whether to take crocked stars who could feature later on in the tournament. 

It's a strange time for all involved. Unfortunately for an ever-growing list, attention is turning to 2026 with time running out to get fit for Qatar. Here's the full list of everyone either confirmed to miss out on the World Cup or a doubt to be 100% fit in time for the tournament. 

World Cup 2022 injury list

Confirmed to miss the tournament

There are a number of high-profile casualties who are set to miss the tournament in Qatar: perhaps the biggest of them all, however, could be Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, whose had his hopes of competing at a first tournament since 2014 dashed after a thigh injury.

Sadio Mané, has been ruled out of the tournament after picking up a tendon injury in Bayern Munich's match against Werder Bremen – he was originally selected by Senegal nevertheless – while Christopher Nkunku has been replaced in France's squad, now. Timo Werner is also set to miss out, as is World Cup final scorer of 2018 Paul Pogba, who has undergone knee surgery following issues that have dogged his Juventus return. His midfield partner N'Golo Kante won't be fit in time after limping off against Tottenham in August. Diogo Jota sustained a tournament-ending knock against Manchester City in the Premier League.

In the England camp, Chelsea full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell have both been ruled out of the tournament. James had previously indicated he was fighting to get fit for the tournament – but now appears to have lost that race. 

Doubts for the tournament

Canada took a collective deep breath when Alphonso Davies went down injured for Bayern Munich, though the Bavarians have now confirmed he should be OK for Qatar. The likes of Angel Di Maria, Richarlison, Son Heung-min and Dusan Vlahovic have all had injury scares but look set to compete at the World Cup despite recent troubles. 

Many stars look set to recover either just in time for the World Cup, just before the tournament or during the tournament itself. For England, Kalvin Phillips is yet to start for Manchester City since moving over the summer, though his recovery timeline aligns with the World Cup and he is not yet out of contention. His team-mate Kyle Walker underwent groin surgery following the Manchester Derby in early October and could now be fit. 

Harry Kane has had a scan on his ankle ahead of the game against USA. Joe Allen, meanwhile, is fighting "round the clock" to be fit for Wales.