The 2026 FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup, set to commence on June 11 across the United StatesVenue·United States, CanadaVenue·Canada, and MexicoVenue·Mexico, will be notably missing several key figures from Germany's top flight. Injuries and national team selections have sidelined prominent BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga stars, impacting the preparations and prospects of their respective nations.
Among the most significant absentees is Austrian midfielder Christoph BaumgartnerPlayer·Christoph Baumgartner, who plays his club football for RB LeipzigTeam·RB Leipzig. The 26-year-old has been officially ruled out of the tournament due to a muscle injury in his right thigh. The setback occurred during a warm-up session for Austria's penultimate friendly match before the global showpiece. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) confirmed the diagnosis following an MRI scan, stating the severity of the muscle damage.
Baumgartner's exclusion represents a considerable blow for Austria, particularly given his exceptional form during the recently concluded 2025/26 BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga season. He delivered outstanding performances for RB LeipzigTeam·RB Leipzig, contributing 17 goals and nine assists in 37 matches, establishing himself as one of the team's most decisive players as they secured a third-place finish in the league. Austria's national coach, Ralf Rangnick, expressed his disappointment regarding the news.
"This is, without any doubt, very bitter news for us as a team. He is a very important player and a crucial personality within the squad."— Ralf Rangnick.
Austria is scheduled to face Argentina in Group J, and Baumgartner's creative influence and goal-scoring threat will be sorely missed.
Germany will also be without a crucial attacking option in Serge GnabryPlayer·Serge Gnabry. The 30-year-old Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich forward sustained an adductor tear in his right thigh during a training session prior to Bayern's match against VfB StuttgartTeam·VfB Stuttgart, shortly before the club clinched the BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga title. Medical examinations confirmed the severity of the injury, ruling him out for several months and consequently, the World Cup.
Gnabry's absence is a major setback for Germany's offensive strategies. He boasts a strong international record, having scored 26 goals in 59 appearances for the national team, and played a significant role in their World Cup qualification campaign. His pace, directness, and clinical finishing would have been vital assets for the German squad.
Meanwhile, Swedish national coach Graham PotterCoach·Graham Potter announced that Eintracht FrankfurtTeam·Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo LarssonPlayer·Hugo Larsson will not be part of SwedenTeam·Sweden's World Cup squad. The 21-year-old was omitted despite being a regular in recent training camps. Reports indicated Larsson was deeply affected by the decision. He had missed several games due to a muscle injury and did not feature in the playoff matches against UkraineTeam·Ukraine and Poland in March. His performance for Eintracht FrankfurtTeam·Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2025/26 season saw him contribute two goals and three assists in 34 competitive matches, as the club finished eighth in the BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga standings.
The collective absence of these BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga talents underscores the physical demands of elite football and the fine margins that can dictate a player's participation in major international tournaments. Their respective national teams now face the challenge of adapting their strategies and finding replacements as the World Cup rapidly approaches.
Austria's Christoph Baumgartner warms up, injured before a friendly match. Branislav Racko/IMAGO
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