Hugo Ekitike set to miss 2026 World Cup with Achilles injury: Who can take his spot with France?

Paris — France’s march toward the 2026 World Cup has been jolted by a cruel blow: Hugo Ekitike will miss the tournament after rupturing his right Achilles tendon during a Champions League duel between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, the French federation confirmed on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old striker collapsed without contact midway through the second half of the high-stakes encounter and was carried off on a stretcher. Scans later revealed a complete rupture, an injury that typically requires seven to nine months of rehabilitation, definitively ending Ekitike’s hopes of appearing on football’s biggest stage this cycle.

“It doesn’t look good for Hugo. It’s especially difficult for him because you never want to get injured, especially at this time of the season,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told reporters after the match, summing up the somber mood across both clubs and the French camp.

Ekitike had forced his way into Didier Deschamps’ plans after a productive club season that yielded 17 goals in 45 appearances. His blend of size, movement and link-up play offered France a different dimension behind established stars Kylian Mbappé and 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. With Les Bleus already navigating a favorable bracket and eager to erase the memories of the 2022 final defeat, the timing of the injury could hardly be worse.

Deschamps and his staff now face a strategic reshuffle. According to Le Parisien, Randal Kolo Muani has emerged as the front-runner to assume Ekitike’s place in the 26-man squad, buoyed by the coaching staff’s longstanding trust in his ability to stretch defenses and contribute without prolonged ball possession. Kolo Muani’s international résumé—highlighted by previous major tournaments—gives him an edge even as his club form wavers.

Christopher Nkunku remains firmly in contention. The versatile forward’s capacity to operate across the front line and his proven technical quality in tight spaces offer Deschamps a tactical wildcard. Jean-Philippe Mateta, meanwhile, continues to knock on the door. The Crystal Palace striker has impressed in cameo appearances for France, showcasing aerial dominance and ruthless efficiency inside the box.

Whoever ultimately gets the nod will slot into an attack still brimming with pedigree. Mbappé and Dembélé headline a unit complemented by the resurgent N’Golo Kanté in midfield and a defense anchored by years of elite European experience. France’s depth was supposed to be its insurance; Ekitike’s absence will test that assumption.

As the countdown to kickoff narrows, Deschamps must balance chemistry, form and fitness. The loss of Ekitike alters rotations, pressing patterns and late-game options, but the objective remains unchanged: claim a third world title and complete the unfinished business left in Qatar.

The federation expects to announce its finalized squad within days, with medical staff also monitoring minor knocks to key starters. For Ekitike, the focus shifts to rehabilitation and the long road back. For France, the mission continues without one of its emerging strikers, amplifying the pressure on those chosen to fill the void.