From John Stones to Mohamed Salah, several high-profile players remain at the World Cup as their club deals run out—turning the final weeks of the tournament into a guessing game about careers, transfers and motivation.
The tension isn’t just on the pitch. It’s also in the calendar—because for a growing list of players, this World Cup is being played under a different kind of pressure: their club futures are unresolved.
John Stones, 32, England, is one of them. His last club was Manchester City, where he has now left after a decade at the club, winning 15 major trophies. England still picked Stones despite recent injury issues. and he has continued to be part of the setup chosen by Thomas Tuchel. Stones has most recently been linked with former club Everton and Italian giants AC Milan.
Casemiro’s story carries a different edge. The 34-year-old Brazil midfielder’s last club was Manchester United. and he was released by United due to his huge wages—despite an outstanding final campaign at Old Trafford. His World Cup form has been patchy. but he did score a priceless equaliser in Brazil’s last-32 comeback win against Japan. With the tournament over, Casemiro is expected to join Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami.
David Alaba, 33, Austria, is another former giant operating without a next contract. His last club was Real Madrid, where he left this summer after five years at the club. Before that, the former Bayern Munich star built a storied career that produced 12 league titles and four Champions Leagues. Alaba has been named Austrian footballer of the year on 10 occasions. There has been speculation about interest from a number of clubs since his Real contract ended. but so far he has not signed for anyone.
Fabinho, 32, Brazil, is also still waiting on what comes next. His last club was Al Ittihad, and his stint in the Saudi Pro League has come to an end. Speaking to Marca in January. Fabinho said he was not in a hurry to sort out his future and would like to return to Europe at some stage. At the World Cup. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has used him largely off the bench. and Fabinho is clearly an important part of the squad.
Mohamed Salah’s situation looks like it’s running on a different fuel: certainty about the next league. but focus on the current one. Salah. 33. Egypt. had Liverpool as his last club. and his last few months at Anfield were not easy as his relationship with boss Arne Slot seemed to disintegrate. Both have now left Liverpool. It is widely expected Salah will move to the Saudi Pro League once the World Cup is over. but for now his focus is solely on leading Egypt in the knockout stages.
James Rodriguez, 34, Colombia, is facing questions that go beyond rumours. His last club was Minnesota United. and Minnesota United do have an option to extend Rodriguez’s contract by a further six months to the end of the year—yet it hasn’t happened. Whether that remains realistic is complicated by how he has actually been used: he only made six appearances in the first half of the season and started just twice. Rodriguez could soon be looking for his fifth club in less than three years.
Luka Modric. 40. Croatia. is again at the centre of uncertainty as the veteran midfielder navigates the last stretch of his club story. His last club was AC Milan. and AC Milan do have an option to extend Modric’s contract by another year—but it is not yet clear if that will happen. The veteran midfielder could continue elsewhere, or quit altogether. Modric struggled badly in Croatia’s World Cup group stage defeat by England. but recovered in victories over Panama and Ghana to help set up a mouth-watering knockout clash with Portugal.
For Vozinha. the stakes have a sharper personal edge—because his World Cup rise has been matched by a contract ending that was supposed to be settled quietly. The 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper went viral for his heroic performance in his side’s opening 0-0 draw with Spain. He has since helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stages for the first time. where they will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Friday. In an interview with a Brazilian journalist. Vozinha revealed his contract with second-division Portuguese club Chaves has ended. but he wants to keep playing.
The list of players still at the World Cup who are out of contract is broader than the names stealing headlines. It includes David Alaba (33. Austria. last club Real Madrid). Nabil Bentaleb (31. Algeria. last club Lille). Casemiro (34. Brazil. last club Manchester United). Fabinho (32. Brazil. last club Al Ittihad). Gideon Mensah (27. Ghana. last club Auxerre). Thomas Meunier (34. Belgium. last club Lille). Luka Modric (40. Croatia. last club AC Milan). Abdul Mumin (27. Ghana. last club Rayo Vallecano). Orjan Nyland (35. Norway. last club Sevilla). Thomas Partey (32. Ghana. last club Villarreal). James Rodriguez (34. Colombia. last club Minnesota United). Mohamed Salah (33. Egypt. last club Liverpool). Xaver Schlager (28. Austria. last club RB Leipzig). John Stones (32. England. last club Manchester City). and Vozinha (40. Cape Verde. last club Chaves). It is a roster that turns the tournament into more than a contest for trophies—each match is also a live audition.
All of these futures are heading toward decisions once the World Cup ends—whether those decisions are sudden exits from clubs like Manchester City. Manchester United. Liverpool and Real Madrid. or slower. unresolved waits. For players still in the knockout picture, the question isn’t just who they’ll face next. It’s what the pitch will write into their next contract.
World Cup 2026 free agents out of contract players John Stones Casemiro David Alaba Fabinho Mohamed Salah James Rodriguez Luka Modric Vozinha Inter Miami Chaves
So are these guys gonna get cut mid tournament or what?
I don’t even understand why it matters where they play next if they’re at the World Cup. Like, Salah and Stones are still gonna ball, right? This sounds like transfer gossip more than soccer.
Stones already left City after a decade… so he’s basically contractless and England’s just like “sure”? That Tuchel guy is probably gambling. Also AC Milan rumors feel random, Everton feels more like a downgrade though.
Casemiro to Inter Miami is gonna be hilarious if he’s “patchy” here too. I swear every World Cup half the players are just waiting on their next paycheck, not motivation. And Stones injury issues? he’s probably just playing through pain to keep his value up… right? Not sure why this article is making it sound like drama, it’s always been like this.