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The five Champions League stars who could miss out on next summer's World Cup
The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are set to come to an end over the coming months and a number of top Champions League stars could be set to miss out on next summer's tournament..
Here, DAZN News assesses the players whose countries are set to miss out on the eagerly-anticipated tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US.
Alexander Isak (Sweden)
Sweden lost 1-0 at home to Kosovo in their latest World Cup qualifying humiliation on Monday night.
The Scandinavian nation sit bottom of their group after four fixtures with just a solitary point and face the dismal prospect of failing to qualify for next summer’s tournament.
Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in the summer for a club-record £125million transfer.
He has yet to hit the ground running at club level this season and drew a blank for Sweden twice in the past few days.
Last Friday they lost 2-0 at home to Switzerland before minnows Kosovo embarrassed them further on Monday.
The Swedes have scored a paltry two goals so far in their campaign and have shipped seven at the back.
Liverpool FC
Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden)
Much like Isak, Gyokeres has hardly set any pulses racing since his big-money move in the summer.
The striker joined Arsenal from Sporting Club but has scored just three goals for the Gunners.
More worryingly, he has drawn a blank in his last seven appearances for club and country, including Sweden’s last two World Cup qualifying defeats to Switzerland and Kosovo.
The Sweden team who lost to Kosovo on Monday also included Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, Leeds United left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson, Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof, Tottenham Hotspur teenager Lucas Bergvall and Newcastle winger Antony Elanga.
All now face missing out on next year’s World Cup.
Getty Images
Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
The versatile Liverpool midfielder, 24, has proved his class in the famous red jersey since moving to Anfield two summers ago.
But he would surely love the opportunity to prove his class on the world stage next summer and is certainly doing his bit to help Hungary get there.
During Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Portugal, 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for the hosts but Szoboszlai struck at the death to salvage a point for his side.
Hungary remain second in Group F and are one point ahead of the Republic of Ireland, who beat Armenia 1-0 in Dublin.
Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Image
Brennan Johnson (Wales)
Wales lack the star quality of a Gareth Bale or a Ryan Giggs these days but Johnson is at least plying his trade in this season’s Champions League with Spurs.
Yet Craig Bellamy’s side lie third in their qualifying group after losing 4-2 at home to Belgium on Monday.
It was a damaging defeat and featured the curious sight of Johnson shooing a giant rat off the pitch during the game.
The pitch invasion from the rodent saw the match temporarily halted.
After being beaten by Belgium, they are instead going to have to try to grasp a place in next summer's finals via the play-offs.
Dušan Vlahović (Serbia)
The Juventus striker came under fire in his native Serbia after the national team’s 1-0 defeat by Albania last Saturday.
The result led to the immediate resignation of head coach Dragan Stojkovic, but he is not the only one who has come in for criticism.
Vlahovic, who has been on encouraging form with Juventus at the start of the 2025-26 season, and fellow frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic have also been the subject of scrutiny.
Both men did, however, score in Serbia’s 3-1 win in Andorra on Tuesday, which left them third in Group K and their qualification hopes still in the balance.
Next up for them is a trip to Wembley to face England next month.
Francois Nel/Getty Images
How to watch the Champions League in the U.S. on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch select teams in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
Between September 25 - October 3, 2025 new customers can get a 20% discount on annual subscription.
An annual upfront payment is now $179.99 reduced from $224.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $15.99 (down from $19.99) and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
Between September 25 - October 3, 2025 new customers can get a 20% discount on annual subscription.
An annual upfront payment is now $119.99 reduced from $149.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $11.99 (down from $14.99) and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
