The world’s best soccer players will travel to North America this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most anticipated sporting event of the year.
The 48-team tournament features young phenoms and veterans alike, but some stars are unavailable due to injury or their country’s ineligibility.
Al Jazeera introduces top stars who will not participate in the World Cup.
Khvitya Kvaratskheria (Georgia)
Kvaratskhelia, one of the most feared wingers in European football, will not be on a plane to North America after his native Georgia failed to qualify for the knockout stages in June and July.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger has been a standout player in this season’s Champions League, but has yet to feature in a World Cup. Georgia’s last major tournament ended in the round of 16 at Euro 2024.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
After Poland’s final qualifying round for the World Cup on March 31st, Lewandowski left the pitch in tears as he unfortunately missed out on participating in the 2026 tournament. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker hinted at retiring from international football after failing to qualify, but has yet to confirm his decision.
Lewandowski has played a record 165 games for Poland since scoring his debut goal against San Marino in 2008 at the age of 20. His 89 goals are almost twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has only appeared in two World Cups and his best result was a last-16 finish in 2022.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali (Italy)
Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third year in a row means some of the Azzurri’s best talent will be absent from the competition, including star goalkeeper Donnarumma and midfielder Tonali.
Italy suffered a shocking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, becoming the first former champions to miss out on a third consecutive World Cup final. The Italians last played in a World Cup in Brazil in 2014, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
The “World Cup curse”, described by Italian media, will keep Donnarumma and Tonali, one of the world’s best goalkeepers, from playing in the world’s biggest soccer tournament.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Nigeria has become the biggest country after Italy to miss out on a ticket to the 2026 World Cup due to a disastrous qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles had dreams of soaring high in North America, but their wings were ripped off in a shocking penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African playoffs.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup means fans will miss out on seeing Lookman, arguably the best player at AFCON 2025, and Osimhen, one of Africa’s most feared strikers.
The dynamic duo of Lookman and Osimhen has often brought joy to fans in Nigeria, which has missed back-to-back World Cup finals for the first time in 36 years.
Hugo Equitique (France)
France forward Ekitike’s dreams of making his World Cup debut were dashed when he ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Liverpool against PSG in April.
The injury could have kept him sidelined until January 2027, but the 23-year-old left the pitch in tears on a stretcher during the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield.
At the start of the 2025-2026 season, Ekitike was far behind in France’s pecking order, but his excellent season at Liverpool, in which he scored 17 goals in all competitions before his injury, increased his chances of being selected by manager Didier Deschamps for the World Cup squad.
Estebao and Rodrigo (Brazil)
Winger Estevao, one of the brightest talents in world football, was aiming to make his long-awaited World Cup debut, but a hamstring injury ended his dreams. The 19-year-old suffered a Grade 4 hamstring injury while playing for his club Chelsea in April, which ultimately ruled him out of the Brazil World Cup squad.
Estevao joined Chelsea from Palmeiras in May 2024 and turned heads in his debut season in England, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. The teenage sensation had also established himself as a regular member of Brazil’s national team under manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who played five games for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup alongside Estevao, will miss this year’s tournament after suffering a torn meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.
The 25-year-old was injured while playing in Madrid in March and is expected to be out until the end of 2026.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Attacking midfielder Simmons will not be part of the Netherlands squad at the 2026 World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while playing for his club Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Simmons, 23, was expected to be a key part of Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad heading into what would have been his second World Cup since his debut in 2022.
He has won 34 caps, most recently appearing in a friendly in March.
Brian Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the World Cup was a surprise, as the Indomitable Lions hold the record for most appearances in Africa with eight appearances.
After losing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the semi-finals of the African Playoffs, Cameroon’s World Cup dreams disappeared, and with it, Mbeumo’s chance to play in North America.
Mbeumo has had a fantastic season at Manchester United, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in all competitions.
Honorable mention
Several other notable players will also be unable to participate in the tournament.
Spain’s midfielder Fermin López was absent due to a fracture in his right leg that required surgery, and Germany’s Serge Gnabry was absent due to a torn adductor muscle in his right thigh.
England have dropped Cole Palmer and Phil Foden from their squad after both had disappointing seasons.
Japan’s Takumi Minamino was absent due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and Kaoru Mitoma was also absent due to a hamstring injury.
Defender Eder Militao was removed from Brazil’s squad after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury, while Ancelotti also left out forwards Joao Pedro and Richarlison.
Slovenia goalkeeper and captain Jan Oblak will be absent after failing to qualify, while central midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will face a similar fate with Hungary also missing out.
