Most Common World Cup Injuries

With an estimated 3.5 to 5 billion fans globally, football is the most popular sport in the world. Its blend of speed, skill and passion unites people across every continent. This article breaks down the most common World Cup injuries, explains why they happen, and shows you how to protect your body so you can keep playing the game you love.

Playing in the World Cup pushes a player's body beyond what a regular domestic league season demands. According to Dr. Riley J. Williams III, a FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup, the combination of repeated high-intensity sprints, accumulated travel, and intense summer temperatures creates an ideal environment for acute injuries and severe fatigue. We have already seen this reality play out with tournament-altering moments, such as Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck suffering an ankle injury or Canada's Ismael Kone breaking a leg.

It will come as no surprise that the vast majority of football injuries happen to the lower half of the body. The constant running, sudden stopping, and physical contact mean your legs are more likely to get injured.

Medical staff at the 2026 World Cup are working hard as high-stakes matches leave a trail of major fitness crises across multiple national squads. Here are some of the main World Cup injuries so far:

• Neymar (Brazil) – Neymar missed Brazil’s first two World Cup matches with a calf problem. He was able to finally get on the pitch, but only for 15 minutes towards the end of the Scotland vs Brazil game.

• Reece James (England) – James was unable to play in England’s group finale against Panama due to a hamstring injury. He is now in an accelerated rehabilitation programme, with the hope that he will be able to play in our next match.

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Salah suffered a knee injury during the Egypt vs Iran group match. He has said it is not a serious injury, so we think he will be back for the next game.

• Yeremy Pino (Spain) – Pino suffered a collarbone injury during Spain’s game against Uruguay, which could lead to him missing the rest of the tournament. Spain said X-rays showed Pino had not sustained a fractured collarbone against Uruguay but an acromioclavicular sprain.

• Nico Williams (Spain) – Williams suffered a groin injury during the win against Uruguay. There is chance that he could be ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

• Ankle Sprains: This is one of the single most common injuries on the pitch. It usually happens when you roll your ankle outward (inversion) while changing direction quickly or stepping on an uneven patch of grass.

• Hamstring and Thigh Pulls: Your hamstrings (the muscles running down the back of your thigh) are vulnerable during sudden bursts of sprinting, jumping, or reaching out for a high kick. When these muscles are pushed too far, they can overstretch or tear and can remove a key player from the match immediately.

• Groin Strains: Groin pain is incredibly common in football, often caused by the repetitive twisting and kicking motions of the ball. Weakness around the hips and pelvis makes players much more vulnerable to this type of ache.

Did you know? Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury in both men and women, but it’s particularly common among women.

Knee injuries are notoriously common in football and often keep players out of action for the longest period.

The knee is a hinge joint, meaning it likes to move forward and backwards. However, football forces you to pivot, cut, and absorb impact from sideways tackles. When the knee is forced to twist while your foot is firmly planted in the grass, the ligaments inside can give way.

The two most common culprits are:

• ACL Injuries: The Anterior Cruciate Ligament runs through the middle of the knee and stops it from shifting out of place. Research indicates an overall baseline incidence of 1.7 ACL injuries per 10,000 athlete events.

• MCL Injuries: The Medial Cruciate Ligament runs along the inside of the knee and protects it from sideways impacts. While an ACL rupture is a tournament-ending diagnosis, minor MCL tears are often managed non-operatively with specialised bracing.

While outfield players spend most of their time worrying about their legs, goalkeepers have a completely different set of risks. Because their job involves diving to the ground, blocking powerful shots, and punching balls clear in crowded penalty areas, their upper bodies take most of the impact.

Goalkeepers frequently suffer from:

• Shoulder injuries: Including rotator cuff strains or separated shoulder injuries caused by hard impacts with the ground during diving saves.

• Elbow and wrist sprains: Often caused by hyperextending the joints when blocking close-range, high-velocity shots.

But whether you are playing in a high-stakes tournament or just having a kickabout with friends on a Sunday morning, injuries are a natural part of the sport.

At Neo G, we know how frustrating it is to be stuck on the sidelines, so we’ve created a guide on how to prevent & recover from football injuries.

You can't avoid every tackle, but you can prepare your body to handle the strain. Preventing injuries comes down to building a smart, consistent routine before and after you play.

• Never Skip the Warm-Up: Walking straight onto the pitch to practice powerful shots will likely lead to a pulled muscle. Spend 10 minutes doing dynamic movements, such as light jogging, leg swings, and lunges, to wake your muscles up and prepare them for activity.

• Strengthen Your Core and Pelvis: A strong core acts as an anchor for your legs. Strengthening your glutes and pelvic muscles through simple exercises like planks and bridges is the best defence against painful groin strains.

• Use Support Tape: If you have a specific muscle group that always feels tight, like a calf or a hamstring, try using NeoTape. It applies directly to the skin, providing lightweight, flexible support that helps your muscles move more efficiently without restricting your movement.

If you do get hurt, your actions in the first few days can make a huge difference in how quickly you can get back to playing.

For an immediate injury, like a fresh ankle sprain or a sudden muscle pull, always reach for cold first. Placing a Neo G Hot & Cold Product (that’s been in the freezer) on the area for 15 minutes helps reduce swelling and numbs the sharp pain.

After a couple of days, once the initial swelling has settled down, you can switch the pack to heat. Heat relaxes tight tissues and eases stiffness.

Phase 1 (Rehab): Use the VCS Neoprene Range while resting and rehabilitating at home to keep the joint stable and warm.

Phase 2 (Return to Play): As you start moving again, your injured joint will be weaker than usual. This is when our Active Supports range is most valuable. Whether it's your knee, ankle, wrist, or elbow, wearing a compression support gives your body physical support and gives you the mental confidence to step back onto the pitch safely.

As we’ve seen with this tournament, injuries are a heavy and frustrating reality of modern football, sidelining even the world's most elite athletes. Whilst injuries might be a frustrating part of football, they don't have to keep you on the sidelines forever. By listening to your body, warming up properly, and using the right football supports, you can help protect your joints and muscles from potential football injuries.

Whether you need to use our Active Supports, NeoTape or Hot & Cold Packs, Neo G is here to support you every step of the way. Take care of your body, play smart, and we'll see you out on the pitch!