Several national teams preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been forced to make changes to their squads after injuries ruled out a number of key players.
Morocco suffered two major setbacks, with winger Abde Ezzalzouli and defender Nayef Aguerd both withdrawn from the squad.
Ezzalzouli, who has been an important attacking option for the North African side, has been replaced by winger Amine Sbaï, while centre-back Marwane Saadane has been called up to replace Aguerd.
Brazil also announced a change after right-back Wesley was ruled out of the tournament.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that midfielder Éderson would take his place, giving the squad a different profile as they prepare for their World Cup campaign.
Germany has also been affected by injury problems, with attacking midfielder and winger Lennart Karl unavailable.
The young German talent has been replaced by midfielder Assan Ouédraogo, who now has an opportunity to impress on the biggest stage in international football.
Austria will head into the tournament without Christoph Baumgartner after the attacking midfielder was ruled out. His place has been taken by midfielder Dejan Ljubičić as Austria continues their preparations for the competition.
The Netherlands were forced into a defensive change after Jurriën Timber suffered an injury setback. The versatile defender, who can operate at centre-back or full-back, has been replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida.
Argentina have also confirmed that centre-back Leonardo Balerdi will miss the tournament because of injury. However, the world champions are yet to announce their official replacement.
The latest withdrawals highlight the challenges national teams face before major tournaments. Injuries during the final stages of preparation can significantly affect squad balance, forcing coaches to make quick decisions and rely on backup options.
For the affected players, missing the World Cup represents a major disappointment, while their replacements now have the opportunity to represent their countries on football’s biggest international stage.
