The complete roster of teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was finalized recently, with Iraq and DR Congo securing their spots as the last qualifiers. This qualification process, however, saw a seismic shock reverberate through the Italian press and the global football community following Italy’s elimination. The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams, including some unexpected participants like Haiti, Curaçao, Turkey, Iran, DR Congo, and Iraq.
Despite the expanded format, several notable absences mean that a host of renowned stars will miss the tournament. For some, this could mark their last realistic opportunity to participate in a World Cup due to their age.
Perhaps no name looms larger than Robert Lewandowski, whose Polish national team was eliminated by Sweden. At 37 years old, the Barcelona striker, who has netted an impressive 89 goals for Poland, might not be actively playing come the 2030 World Cup in four years’ time.
Italy’s unexpected exit means that no Italian player will feature in the competition. Among the most prominent is goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was famously named player of the tournament at the UEFA Euros 2020 (held in 2021). Similarly, Denmark’s elimination via a penalty shootout means that Christian Eriksen, at 34, may also find himself watching the 2030 World Cup from the sidelines.
From the African continent, Guinea’s elimination rules out Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, the former Napoli striker, along with Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now at Marseille, could also potentially end their careers without a World Cup appearance.
Other significant players who will be absent from the 2026 World Cup include:
- Bryan Mbeumo – Cameroon, Manchester United
- Dusan Vlahovic – Serbia, Juventus
- Dominik Szoboszlai – Hungary, Liverpool
- Sandro Tonali – Italy, Newcastle
- Milos Kerkez – Hungary, Liverpool
- Alexis Sanchez – Chile, Sevilla