World Cup Teams and Football Clubs

May 16, 2026, 15:30
AfricaSports

Introduction

National teams chose their players for the World Cup. Now, some football clubs have fewer players.

Main Body

France did not choose Khephren Thuram and Pierre Kalulu. These players play for Juventus. Thuram was sick or hurt. Now these players can rest and get healthy. Some players cannot play because of injuries. Matthijs De Ligt had surgery on his back. He cannot play in the World Cup. Other players have good news. Nicolas Pépé is in the Ivory Coast team. Yuto Nagatomo is 39 years old, but he is in the Japan team.

Conclusion

Some players are hurt and some are not in the teams. This changes the plans for the clubs.

Learning

🟢 The 'Can' and 'Cannot' Rule

In this story, we see how to talk about possibility and ability using one simple word: Can.

1. The Positive (Yes)

  • "These players can rest."
  • "Nicolas Pépé is in the team" →\rightarrow He can play.

2. The Negative (No)

  • "Some players cannot play."
  • "He cannot play in the World Cup."

💡 Quick Guide:

  • Can = It is possible / I am able.
  • Cannot = It is impossible / I am not able.

📂 Word Swap: Health & Status

Notice how these words connect to the ability to play:

  • Sick/Hurt/Surgery →\rightarrow Cannot play →\rightarrow Need to rest.
  • Healthy →\rightarrow Can play →\rightarrow Join the team.

Vocabulary Learning

players
people who play a sport or game
Example:The players will practice tomorrow.
injuries (n.)
damage or harm to a body part that makes it hard to move or work
Example:Many football players suffered injuries during the match.
team
a group of people working together
Example:Our team won the match.
surgery (n.)
a medical operation to fix a problem in the body
Example:He had surgery on his back to repair a serious injury.
club
an organization for people with a common interest
Example:The club has a new coach.
back (n.)
the part of the body behind the chest and between the shoulders and hips
Example:She had pain in her back after lifting heavy boxes.
injuries
physical harm that stops someone from playing
Example:The injuries stopped him from playing.
good (adj.)
positive, favorable, or satisfactory
Example:He received good news about his recovery.
surgery
medical operation to fix a problem
Example:The surgery helped him recover.
news (n.)
information about recent events or facts
Example:The news said that the team would change its strategy.
back
the part of the body behind the chest
Example:He has a strong back.
changes (n.)
the act of making something different or new
Example:The changes in the schedule surprised everyone.
world cup
a big international sports competition
Example:The World Cup is exciting.
plans (n.)
ideas or arrangements for future actions
Example:They had to adjust their plans after the injury.
rest
to stop working and relax
Example:After the game, he will rest.
healthy
in good physical condition
Example:She is healthy after the check‑up.
sick
not feeling well
Example:He is sick and cannot attend.
hurt
injured or in pain
Example:He was hurt during the match.
good
positive or favorable
Example:The news is good for everyone.
news
information about recent events
Example:The news is about the tournament.
plan
a set of actions to achieve something
Example:They made a plan to improve.
change
to make something different
Example:We need to change our strategy.
years
units of time
Example:He has many years of experience.
old
having lived many years
Example:He is old and wise.