Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The best soccer players in the world will travel to North America this summer for the most anticipated game of the year: the FIFA World Cup 2026.
While the 48-team tournament will feature young and veteran players, some stars will be absent from the tournament, having missed out due to injury or their countries’ failure to qualify.
Al Jazeera looks at the top stars who will not be at the World Cup:
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
One of the most feared players in European football, Kvaratskhelia will not be on the plane to North America after his country Georgia failed to qualify for the finals in June and July.
The winner of Paris Saint-Germain, is a famous actor in the Champions League this season, he did not play in the World Cup. His last major tournament with Georgia ended in the round of 16 at Euro 2024.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
A tearful Lewandowski left the field after the World Cup final in Poland on March 31 as a nation. narrow miss for the 2026 edition. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker has also talked about retiring from international football after failing to qualify but has yet to confirm the idea.
Lewandowski has played 165 games for Poland, starting with a goal against San Marino in 2008 at the age of 20. His 89 goals are twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has only played at the World Cup twice with a last 16 finish in 2022 being his best result.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali (Italy)
Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row It means the tournament will be without some of the Azzurri’s best talent, including midfielder Donnarumma and midfielder Tonali.
After a shock penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs, Italy became the first champions to miss three World Cup finals in a row. The last time Italy played at the World Cup was in 2014 when they crashed out in the group stage in Brazil.
“The World Cup curse”, as reported by the Italian pressit will keep Donnarumma – one of the best goalkeepers in the world – and Tonali out of the biggest football tournament in the world.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
After Italy, Nigeria is the biggest country that did not miss the ticket to the World Cup 2026, thanks to a very successful campaign. The Super Eagles dreamed of rising to the top in North America, but their wings were clipped penalty shootout in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African competition.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup means fans will miss out on watching Lookman, arguably their best player at AFCON 2025, and Osimhen, one of Africa’s most feared strikers.
The dynamic duo of Lookman and Osimhen often brings joy to the Nigerian fans, whose team missed out on back-to-back World Cup finals for the first time in 36 years.
Hugo Ekitike (France)
French midfielder Ekitike’s dream of making his World Cup debut was dashed when he he ruptured his Achilles tendon when Liverpool play against PSG in April.
The injury, which will keep him out until January 2027, saw the 23-year-old leave the pitch crying on a stretcher during the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Anfield.
At the start of the 2025-2026 season, Ekitike was on the verge of being kicked out of France, but an impressive season at Liverpool, which saw him score 17 goals in all competitions until his injury, saw him selected by coach Didier Deschamps for the World Cup.
Estevao and Rodrygo (Brazil)
One of the brightest talents in world football, winger Estevao was poised to make his World Cup debut until a hip injury crushed his dream. The 19-year-old suffered a grade 4 hip injury while playing for Chelsea in April, which ruled him out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Joining Chelsea from Palmeiras in May 2024, Estevao’s eight goals and four assists in his first season in England caught everyone’s attention. The young interest also showed itself as a member of the Brazilian team under Carlo Ancelotti.
Along with Estevao, Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who has played five times for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, will miss this year due to illness. meniscus and ACL in his right knee.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury while playing for Madrid in March and is expected to be out until the end of 2026.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Midfielder Simons will not be with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup due to illness Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. playing for his team, Tottenham Hotspur, against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League match.
Simons, 23, is expected to be a key player in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for what would be his second World Cup after making his debut in 2022.
He has earned a total of 34, the most recent in March.
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the World Cup came as a surprise as the Indomitable Lions hold the African record for most appearances with eight in total.
After losing to DR Congo in the semifinals of the African playoffs, Cameroon’s World Cup dream died and, with it, Mbeumo’s chance to play in North America.
Mbeumo has had a great season at Manchester United, scoring 10 goals and assisting three in all competitions.
Honorable mentions
A few other notable players will also miss the tournament.
Spanish player Fermin Lopez misses out after surgery to break his right foot while in Germany Serge Gnabry removed with a torn right thigh.
England is abandoned Cole Palmer and Phil Foden from their team after both having disappointing seasons.
Of Japan Takumi Minamino was sidelined after suffering an ACL tear Kaoru Mitoma he also misses out with a hamstring injury.
The protector You Soldiers He was withdrawn from the Brazil squad after undergoing surgery on a hip injury while Ancelotti also dropped out. João Pedro and Richarlison.
The Slovenian goalkeeper is the captain Jan Oblak He will be absent if he fails to qualify, and in between Dominik Szoboszlai they will suffer a similar fate after Hungary also missed out.
