Here's the latest injury and availability outlook for some of the biggest names heading into the Round of 16.
Alphonso Davies, Canada - Left Hamstring
Alphonso Davies has successfully returned from a left hamstring injury and made his 2026 World Cup debut in Canada's 1-0 Round of 32 victory over South Africa. The Bayern Munich star missed the entire group stage as Canada took a cautious approach to his recovery, even using him as a "decoy" on the bench while he completed his rehabilitation and athletic progressions. Davies originally suffered the injury during Bayern Munich's Champions League semifinal on May 6. He returned as a substitute against South Africa, playing the final 15 minutes, and is now fully cleared for an increased role in Canada's upcoming match vs. Morocco.
Julio Enciso, Paraguay - Lower-Body Muscle Strain
Julio Enciso has been fully cleared and is expected to start for Paraguay in their historic Round of 16 matchup against France at the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder suffered an apparent lower-body muscle strain during the 57th minute of Paraguay's Round of 32 upset over Germany, initially raising concerns about a potentially serious injury. However, medical testing revealed the issue to be a minor knock rather than a significant muscle tear. Enciso has since returned to full training, moved past all medical restrictions, and is available for Paraguay's biggest match of the tournament.
Raphinha, Brazil - Right Hamstring
Raphinha has been officially ruled out of Brazil's Round of 16 match against Norway after suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain during the first half of Brazil's second group-stage match against Haiti. The injury is particularly concerning because it represents his fourth hamstring issue in the past year, leading Brazil's medical staff to take an extremely cautious approach. Raphinha recently returned to light individual training and completed approximately 30 minutes of on-field work, but a final medical evaluation determined he is not yet ready for full match intensity. Brazil remains optimistic that, should the Seleção advance past Norway, the Barcelona winger could return for a potential quarterfinal on July 11.
Lucas Paquetá, Brazil - Hamstring
Paquetá is in serious danger of missing the rest of the World Cup after tests reportedly confirmed a Grade 2 left hamstring injury suffered during Brazil's Round of 32 win over Japan.
According to Brazilian outlet ge, the injury is significant enough that Paquetá is considered virtually ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. However, Brazil will keep him with the squad in case he can recover ahead of schedule.
Declan Rice, England - Neural Hamstring/Lower Back Pain
Declan Rice is managing persistent neural hamstring and lower back pain, but England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the midfielder is not dealing with a structural injury and is expected to be available for the Three Lions' Round of 16 match against Mexico. Rice has been dealing with the nerve issue since Christmas, with the discomfort occasionally causing shooting pain down his leg and contributing to his late withdrawal against DR Congo. Despite the lingering issue, the Arsenal midfielder has continued to play and has publicly stated that he feels fit and strong heading into England's knockout match.
Jarell Quansah, England - Ankle
Jarell Quansah is working to prove his fitness ahead of England's Round of 16 match against Mexico after suffering an ankle sprain during the 63rd minute of the Three Lions' group-stage win over Panama. The injury forced him to miss England's Round of 32 victory over DR Congo, but the defender has since returned to individual on-field training. Manager Thomas Tuchel said Quansah's recovery is progressing well and that he is "a little bit ahead" of teammate Reece James in terms of readiness. He remains a game-time decision but is pushing to be available and could potentially feature against Mexico.
Reece James, England - Hamstring
Reece James is in a tight race to be available for England's Round of 16 match against Mexico after suffering a hamstring injury during the group-stage victory over Ghana. The injury forced the Chelsea captain to miss England's final group match against Panama and the Round of 32 win over DR Congo. James has recently been following an individualized acceleration program rather than participating in full team training, though he provided a positive update by saying he is "feeling good." Manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed James is progressing but remains "a little bit behind" Jarell Quansah in his recovery. He is considered a major doubt to start against Mexico but is pushing to at least make the bench as England manages his return carefully.
Mohamed Salah, Egypt - Hamstring
Salah returned to Egypt training on Wednesday, a significant positive sign after suffering a hamstring strain in the team's final group-stage match.
There was optimism immediately after the injury that the strain was not serious, and his quick return to training further supports that belief.
From a medical perspective, even a mild hamstring strain can be difficult to recover from in less than a week, especially for an explosive player who relies heavily on acceleration and change of direction. Egypt will likely wait until closer to kickoff before making a final decision.
