The 2026 World Cup will showcase many of the planet’s finest footballers, yet an entire roster of elite players will be forced to watch the action from afar.

We’ve assembled a best XI of top-class stars who will miss out on the 2026 World Cup — whether due to their national teams failing to qualify, being left out of the final squads, or suffering untimely injuries.

Italy’s heartbreak continued as the Azzurri fell to Bosnia in the play-offs. After going six decades without missing a World Cup prior to 2018, Italy have now failed to qualify for three consecutive editions.

Gianluigi Donnarumma remains arguably the only world-class figure in Italy’s current squad and is still awaiting his first appearance at a World Cup finals.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s international career has struggled to gain momentum, with both Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel showing limited trust in the Real Madrid right-back. A player of exceptional creativity, Alexander-Arnold risks being underutilised by England.

Eder Militao’s recent years have been plagued by injuries, including ACL problems in both knees. The Brazilian star was ruled out of the tournament after undergoing surgery for a biceps femoris muscle injury in April, adding to a string of unfortunate setbacks.

The second of four Italians in this lineup, Alessandro Bastoni, has twice won Serie A’s Best Defender award in the past three seasons and was a pivotal figure in Inter Milan’s 2025/26 title-winning campaign.

Another champion from Europe’s top leagues, Riccardo Calafiori was instrumental in Arsenal’s long-awaited Premier League triumph, ending a 22-year drought. However, his international fortunes mirrored Italy’s failures, as the Azzurri again missed out on the World Cup.

Sandro Tonali continues to draw attention from major clubs, with reports suggesting a £100 million valuation this summer. The Newcastle midfielder is built for the big stage, yet Italy’s absence denies him that spotlight. It’s clear Italian football needs urgent revival.

Joining Tonali in midfield is Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian standout who often outshone his Liverpool teammates during the 2025/26 season. Despite his stellar form, he couldn’t guide Hungary to World Cup qualification.

Just two years ago, the idea of Phil Foden missing out on England’s World Cup squad would have been unthinkable. The Premier League’s standout performer in 2023/24 and PFA Player of the Year has struggled to replicate that brilliance. Thomas Tuchel admitted he remains uncertain about Foden’s best position — a recurring issue for England managers.

Perhaps the most surprising omission from this summer’s spectacle is the gifted Georgian, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. After playing a crucial role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory, he emerged as a genuine Ballon d’Or contender. However, missing the World Cup could hinder his chances, as the tournament often heavily influences Ballon d’Or voting.

It appears that Robert Lewandowski has likely made his final World Cup appearance. Poland were eliminated by Sweden in the play-offs, and by the time the next edition arrives, the striker will be 42. Having left Barcelona after netting 120 goals in four seasons, Lewandowski will spend the summer deciding his next move.

Leading the line alongside him in our XI is Victor Osimhen. Nigeria’s penalty shootout loss to DR Congo denied the Super Eagles a spot in the tournament. As a result, Osimhen will miss the chance to add to his remarkable record of 35 goals in 51 matches for Nigeria.