A tournament without many big names.
The qualification for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place this summer across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, has concluded. All participating teams have been confirmed.
While fans expect to see the best players showcase their talent, not all national teams qualified, leaving several top stars on the sidelines. The Footem team has created a list of standout players who will miss the World Cup.
1. Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
The Nigerian national team recently excelled in the Africa Cup of Nations, winning bronze. However, they fell short in World Cup qualifying, finishing second in their group and missing the intercontinental playoff.
As a result, Osimhen and Lookman, both top strikers, will not be seen at the World Cup. Osimhen scored six goals during qualifying and had one assist. This season, he has played 29 matches for Galatasaray, netting 19 goals and providing seven assists. At just 27, he would have been a key player on the world’s stage.
Lookman, now 28 and fresh from a transfer to Atletico Madrid, has also made a significant impact. He played 34 matches combined for both his clubs, scoring eight goals and assisting six times. His absence at the World Cup is disappointing.
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Despite being 36 years old, Gabon international Aubameyang is still performing well. Currently with Marseille, he has made 36 appearances this season, scoring 12 goals and providing ten assists. He scored seven goals in six qualifying matches, but Gabon lost 1–4 to Nigeria in the playoffs. Aubameyang has never participated in a World Cup, and it seems he may miss that opportunity forever.
3. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
Guirassy, an important player for Borussia Dortmund, featured in 40 matches this season. However, he only managed one goal in eight qualifying matches, contributing to Guinea’s fourth-place finish in their group, where they failed to advance. One of the Bundesliga‘s top strikers will miss the World Cup.
4. Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
This summer, Mbeumo joined Manchester United from Brentford and quickly became a pivotal player, making 27 appearances, scoring ten goals, and assisting three times. Unfortunately, Cameroon lost first place in their qualifying group to Cape Verde and fell short in the intercontinental playoff against DR Congo. Mbeumo had four goals and several assists in qualifying but will not attend the World Cup.
5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
The Georgian winger moved from Napoli to PSG last winter, even winning the UEFA Champions League shortly after. Kvaratskhelia has made 39 appearances this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting eight. He played all six matches in World Cup qualifying but could not help Georgia, which finished with just three points. As a result, Georgia will once again miss the World Cup.
6. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
At 37, Lewandowski continues to produce exceptional performances. This season, he has made 39 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 17 goals and assisting three. Despite his efforts, Poland lost in the playoffs to Sweden, marking the first time they will miss the World Cup in the last three iterations. For Lewandowski, this may have been his last chance.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nicolò Barella (Italy)
Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup again, having lost to Norway in their group and then losing in the playoff final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Donnarumma, considered one of the best goalkeepers, will miss his second consecutive World Cup, while Barella, a key player for both Inter and Italy, could not help the team advance either.
8. Rasmus Højlund (Denmark)
After moving to Napoli, Højlund regained his form, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists in 37 appearances. He played well in qualifying, scoring five goals in seven matches, but Denmark lost to the Czech Republic in the playoffs. This marks Denmark’s first absence from the World Cup in the last three editions, disappointing Højlund.
9. Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
While Liverpool has struggled this season, Szoboszlai has been a bright spot, making 45 appearances and contributing 12 goals and eight assists. Unfortunately, Hungary needed to win against Ireland to secure a spot but lost 2–3 in the final qualifying round. Szoboszlai managed one goal and four assists but could not prevent Hungary’s tenth consecutive World Cup absence.
10. Leon Bailey (Jamaica)
Bailey has seen limited playing time this season, with just 24 appearances and one goal. He is a crucial player for Jamaica, who reached the intercontinental playoff after finishing second in their group. However, they lost to DR Congo, which means Jamaica, unable to qualify since 1998, will again miss the tournament.
11. Illia Zabarnyi (Ukraine)
Zabarnyi has made impressive strides in his career, moving from Bournemouth to PSG, where he has played 30 matches this season. He has also been a leader for his national team, playing all seven qualification matches. Despite finishing second in their group and reaching the playoffs, Ukraine lost to Sweden and will miss the World Cup for the 20th consecutive year.
12. Vedat Muriqi (Kosovo)
Muriqi, excelling at Mallorca with 19 goals this season, helped his team reach the qualification playoffs. Kosovo won against Slovakia but fell to Turkey in the final. Muriqi was unable to lead his national team to a historic World Cup appearance.
13. Dušan Vlahović (Serbia)
Vlahović has struggled with injuries this season, limiting him to 18 appearances for Juventus with six goals. In qualifying, he played seven matches but could not help Serbia, which finished third in their group, leading them to miss the World Cup for the first time in the last three editions.
14. Jan Oblak (Slovenia)
The Slovenian goalkeeper continues to show his quality at 33 years old but will also miss the World Cup again. Slovenia collected just four points in their qualifying round, finishing third. This marks the third consecutive World Cup absence for both Oblak and Slovenia.