World Cup stories: The big name stars that are missing out on the 2026 tournament

The final line-up for this summer's World Cup was confirmed this week, with the conclusion of the play-offs securing the final six spots for the 2026 finals. 

It was joy for nations such as Sweden, Iraq and Turkey, but despair for several other countries who will now have a watching brief instead of competing on football's biggest stage. 

So, as we look forward to seeing the best players in the world compete in North America in 70 days' time, who are the biggest names missing out on the action? 

• Read next I 71 days - Good camp, bad camp from England's final home friendlies before the finals

 

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

There will be some of the world's top goalkeepers on display at the World Cup, but not the man who is perhaps considered the very best in his position. 

Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive finals in a row means we won't be seeing the Manchester City stopper, who won't be able to follow the same legacy as great Italians of the past like Dino Zoff and Gigi Buffon, who became World Cup greats. 

It means Donnarumma's only major finals for his country were the Azzurri's 2021 Euros triumph, where he was a penalty-saving hero at Wembley, but he'll have to wait another four years to experience football's biggest stage. 

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Robert Lewandowski (Poland) 

This summer will see a final dance for a slew of legendary names inlcuding Luka Modric, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, one man who would have been among that stellar line-up on a farewell World Cup tour was Poland's greatest-ever player, if only his country had reached the finals.

The Poles' defeat to Sweden means one of the generation's very best strikers won't be gracing us with his shooting boots this summer and will bow out from the World Cup stage without adding to the two goals he scored at the 2022 tournament. 

Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)

Easily Liverpool's standout performer this season, but he'll be watching his teammates head to the World Cup this summer rather than joining them in the States. 

The Hungarians failed to even make the play-offs after the Republic of Ireland denied them a last shot at qualification in the last group stage matches, and it means their skipper is part of the fallout. 

It's a big shame for those fans of free-kick masters, because the midfielder would have been among the very best set piece specailits at the tournament if Hungary had made it to North America.

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Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

The Nigerians are often a name that lights up the World Cup, partly down to their vibrant kit designs, but they won't be at the 2026 finals and therefore neither will be hitman Osimhen. 

The Galatasaray forward has hit 19 goals already this season and remains one of the deadliest strikers in world football, as seen in this year's Champions League. 

A player who would have absolutely been part of the Golden Boot conversation if he had been part of the festivities, but the African's failed to overcome DR Congo in the CAF play-offs and means we're missing out on seeing Osimhen and his mask on the world stage. 

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)

George Weah, Ryan Giggs, and George Best, all iconic names of the past, who all never got to play at a World Cup due to the struggle of their nations to qualify, and you get the feeling the same fate could befall Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. 

Even in 2026, with expanded World Cups and Nations League places, Georgia are a side unlikely to ever reach a major tournament, such is their small pool of player options. 

Therefore, we'll never see the swaggering and skilful PSG star strut his stuff internationally, so make sure you breathe in every delightful moment we get from 'The Georgian' in the Champions League because that's likely as good at will get. 

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Federico Dimarco (Italy)

Italy's absence is another cruel blow to the four-time winners and it means we won't be seeing Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella or the man who's having the season of his life in 2025-26, Federico Dimarco. 

The Inter wing-back is in the running to be Serie A's MVP this season after a season that's seen him rack up 15 assists - more than double anyone else in the league - as well as score six goals from the left flank.

It's a weapon that has seen the Nerazzurri top the league for most of the campaign, and his performances deserve to be taken to the international stage this summer. Alas, though, it wasn't to be. 

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