Several high-profile players are dealing with injury concerns as the FIFA World Cup group stage continues. Brazil will be without Neymar after he suffered a Grade 2 right calf strain, while United States star Christian Pulisic continues to manage a calf issue. Spain has also taken a cautious approach with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, both of whom are returning from recent hamstring injuries. Here's the latest injury and availability outlook for some of the tournament's biggest names.

Key Facts

Christian Pulisic: Calf issue, day-to-day

Lamine Yamal: Recovering from left hamstring strain, minutes being managed

Nico Williams: Recovered from Grade 1 left hamstring strain, not yet at full match fitness

Neymar: Grade 2 right calf strain, expected to miss the group stage

Christian Pulisic - Calf

Pulisic is dealing with a calf issue after taking a kick during the first half of the United States' match and was substituted at halftime as a precaution. The USMNT captain did not participate in full team training this week, instead completing a modified session that included gym work and individual field exercises. On Wednesday, he progressed to light ball work with a trainer. Encouragingly, both Pulisic and head coach Mauricio Pochettino downplayed the severity of the injury. Pulisic noted that the discomfort is in the back of his leg, specifically the calf area, and said he has experienced similar issues before. At this point, the situation appears precautionary rather than indicative of a serious calf strain, but his status will continue to be monitored closely ahead of the United States' next match.

Pro Football Doc Analysis: While Pulisic has downplayed the injury publicly, the concern is that this appears to be an aggravation of a calf issue rather than a simple contusion. Calf injuries are notorious for lingering and worsening if a player returns too soon, and Pulisic has a documented history of calf problems throughout his career. He has been limited to modified training sessions rather than full team activities, making his status uncertain. Even if he is able to suit up against Australia, there are legitimate concerns about his effectiveness and the risk of aggravating the injury further. Expect the US to be cautious and possibly sit him out on Friday.

Lamine Yamal - Hamstring

Yamal has been dealing with a left hamstring injury, specifically a biceps femoris strain, that he suffered while playing for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on April 22. The injury ended his club season and raised significant concerns about his availability for the 2026 World Cup, especially given reports that he also dealt with related groin issues during his recovery. However, after several weeks of rehabilitation, Spain received positive news when head coach Luis de la Fuente declared Yamal to be in "perfect condition" ahead of the tournament. Despite being medically cleared, Spain took a cautious approach in the World Cup opener against Cape Verde, starting the young star on the bench and bringing him on as a substitute. The decision appeared to be more about workload management than any lingering injury concern, and Yamal is expected to continue playing a larger role as the tournament progresses.

Nico Williams - Hamstring

Williams has been dealing with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain he suffered on May 10 while playing for Athletic Bilbao against Valencia. The injury occurred during the first half and forced him out after just 36 minutes, raising immediate concerns about his availability for the 2026 World Cup. The setback came on top of a season already disrupted by recurring groin and pubalgia issues that had cost him significant playing time. Fortunately for Spain, testing revealed the hamstring injury was relatively mild, and Williams was able to complete his recovery in time for the tournament. By mid-June, head coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed he was fully healthy, though not yet ready for a full 90-minute workload. As a result, Spain took a cautious approach in the World Cup opener against Cape Verde, utilizing Williams off the bench while managing his minutes. Like Lamine Yamal, he is expected to see his role expand as his match fitness continues to improve throughout the tournament.

Neymar - Calf

Neymar continues to recover from the Grade 2 strain of his right calf that he suffered on May 17 while playing for Santos against Coritiba. The calf strain sidelined Neymar for Brazil's pre-World Cup preparations and created major uncertainty about his availability for the tournament. While recent MRI scans have shown encouraging progress and recovery within expected parameters, Neymar has yet to fully rejoin team training and was unavailable for Brazil's World Cup opener against Morocco. Current reports suggest he is unlikely to return until the knockout stage, if at all. Even if Neymar is able to get back on the field later in the tournament, there are legitimate concerns about whether he can regain full explosiveness and match fitness after such limited preparation. As a result, expectations should be tempered, as he is unlikely to be operating at 100 percent for any potential World Cup return.