The England men's national team has a history of bizarre injuries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and their latest recovery session is raising eyebrows—and not in a good way.
Just days after midfielder Jordan Henderson fractured his arm celebrating their Round of 16 win over Mexico, the squad decided to hit the pool for some lighthearted fun. Video posted on England's official social media shows players performing diving board jumps, flips, and other acrobatic moves in what they called a recovery session.
The timing couldn't be worse. Henderson is already sidelined after undergoing surgery for a broken wrist suffered when he leaped over an advertising board and landed awkwardly. Now, with a quarterfinal showdown against Norway looming on Saturday, fans are worried the team is tempting fate.
“Why are we doing backflips???” one concerned supporter wrote on social media. Another added, “You’d assume they are all bubble wrapped until Saturday … but clearly someone went ‘Let’s add a springboard this time instead of the advertising boards!'”
Fans Sound the Alarm
While no injuries were reported from the pool session, the optics have many questioning the squad's judgment. The storm that forced an early kickoff for the Mexico match already disrupted preparation, and now this self-inflicted risk has fans on edge.
“Stay safe!” another fan pleaded. The sentiment echoes a broader unease as England approaches its biggest test yet. Norway, a formidable opponent, will be looking to exploit any weakness—and a distracted or injured England side could be vulnerable.
Henderson, meanwhile, is taking his recovery in stride. In a social media post, he wrote, “Surgery done! Now Let’s get ready for the big one Saturday 💪 Thank you to all the staff that looked after me at Kansas city orthopaedic institute. Especially the 3 surgeons who carried out the operation. ❤️ Dr. Kenneth P. Unruh, Dr. Mark J Winston, Dr. Kirk McCullough.”
A History of Freak Injuries
England's World Cup campaign has been plagued by unusual mishaps. Henderson's broken arm is just the latest in a series of incidents that have left fans shaking their heads. The team's decision to engage in high-risk pool activities highlights a broader issue: the fine line between team bonding and unnecessary danger.
Some have drawn comparisons to USMNT legend Jermaine Jones' call to rename soccer to football, arguing that such antics undermine the seriousness of the tournament. Others point to Piers Morgan's solutions for US soccer as a reminder that discipline matters at the highest level.
For now, England fans can only hope their stars stay safe—and away from any more diving boards. The quarterfinal match against Norway is set for 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, airing live on FOX.
