The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was expected to open the door for more nations, but several high-profile players will still miss out after their countries failed to qualify. From Africa to Europe, some of football’s biggest names will be absent from the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s failure to qualify means one of Africa’s most in-form strikers will not be on the global stage. Osimhen, who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Galatasaray, has yet to feature at a World Cup. Nigeria last appeared in 2018, making this another missed opportunity for the forward to announce himself at the tournament.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Lewandowski’s absence could mark the end of his World Cup journey. The FC Barcelona striker has scored two goals across seven World Cup matches. Despite his dominance at club level, he has not enjoyed the same impact on football’s biggest stage, and with age catching up, another appearance looks unlikely.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
Italy’s continued struggles in qualification mean Donnarumma will again miss out. The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, despite being among the world’s best, has never played at a World Cup. Italy’s absence now stretches across multiple editions, a surprising run for a four-time champion.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
Kvaratskhelia’s growing reputation in European football will not translate to the World Cup stage just yet. Also at Paris Saint-Germain, the winger is still waiting for his first appearance at the tournament after Georgia fell short in qualification.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
Hungary’s absence extends a long wait to return to the World Cup. Szoboszlai, who plays for Liverpool FC, has yet to feature at the tournament. At 25, he remains one for the future, but 2026 was expected to be his breakout moment on the global stage.
Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Denmark’s failure to qualify signals the end of an era for Christian Eriksen. The VfL Wolfsburg midfielder played a key role in Denmark’s Round of 16 finish in 2018. However, 2026 appears to be the final missed opportunity for him to return to the competition.
Dušan Vlahović (Serbia)
Vlahović will miss a chance to build on his World Cup experience. The Juventus FC forward featured in 2022, where Serbia exited in the group stage after a difficult campaign. Still in his prime, he remains central to Serbia’s future plans.
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Cameroon’s absence rules out one of the Premier League’s most consistent attackers. Bryan Mbeumo, of Manchester United, played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Cameroon secured a memorable win over Brazil but did not progress beyond the group phase.
A tournament without familiar faces
The absence of countries such as Italy, Nigeria, Denmark, Poland, and Cameroon underlines the competitiveness of World Cup qualification, even with more slots available. While new teams and emerging talents will take centre stage in 2026, the tournament will be missing several familiar faces from the global game.
