2026 World Cup, the packages follow one another
Several national teams have announced last minute packages, as the 2026 World Cup is fast approaching.
As the 2026 World Cup prepares to resume on June 11, the qualified nations continue their preparation. Some face each other in friendly matches, while others refine their list. But as with every edition, a good number of last minute absences are to be deplored.
This is particularly the case for the Austrian playing master, Christoph Baumgartner. The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder with 58 caps (19 goals) will unfortunately miss the World Cup due to a “muscular injury to the right thigh” revealed this Tuesday after an MRI the day after a match against Tunisia (1-0), as indicated by the Austrian selection.
On the Ghana side too, there were unpleasant surprises. Initially called up by Carlos Queiroz, Spartak Moscow central defender Alexander Djiku was finally forced to withdraw due to hamstring discomfort. The same goes for Mohamed Kudus, still not recovered from his quadriceps problem.
Scotland and Canada not spared
Scotland and Canada were also forced to announce packages on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup. For the Tartan Army, it is Billy Gilmour. A regular in the starting eleven with already 46 caps at just 24 years old, the Naples midfielder suffered a sprained right knee on Saturday. He left his team in tears against Curaçao (4-1).
For the host country, coach Jesse Marsch will have to cope without the unfortunate Marcelo Flores. The young Monterrey Tigers winger ruptured the anterior cruciate ligaments in his right leg in the 15th minute of the CONCACAF Champions League final won by Toluca (0-0, 1-1, 6-5 on the tab).
