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Reason for Major Player Absences
Classification of why key players are missing the 2026 World Cup
Primary Sources
World Cup 2026: Which star players will miss the tournament?
The world’s best football players will travel to North America this summer for the most anticipated sporting event of the year: the FIFA World Cup 2026.While the 48-team tournament will feature young prodigies and veterans alike, some stars will not be at the tournament, having missed out due to injuries or because their nations failed to qualify.Al Jazeera takes a look at the top stars who will not be at the World Cup:Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG’s most creative player, will not be at the World Cup [File: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP]One of the most feared wingers in European football, Kvaratskhelia will not be on the plane to North America as his country, Georgia, failed to qualify for the finals in June and July.The Paris Saint-Germain winger, the standout player in the Champions League this season, is yet to play at a World Cup. His last major tournament with Georgia ended in a round-of-16 run at Euro 2024.Robert Lewandowski (Poland)The 2026 edition was probably Lewandowski’s last chance of featuring at another World Cup [File: Kacper Pempel/Reuters]A teary-eyed Lewandowski left the pitch after Poland’s final World Cup qualifier on March 31 as the nation narrowly missed out on the 2026 edition. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker even hinted at international retirement after the failure to qualify but has yet to confirm the decision.Lewandowski has played a record 165 games for Poland, beginning with a goal on his debut against San Marino in 2008 when he was 20. His 89 goals are nearly twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has played at the World Cup only twice with a last-16 finish in 2022 being the best result.Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali (Italy)Tonali, left, and Donnarumma are important players at their respective clubs, Newcastle United and Manchester City [File: Scott Heppell/Reuters]Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time means the tournament will be devoid of some of the finest Azzurri talents, including star goalkeeper Donnarumma and midfielder Tonali.After suffering a shock penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs, Italy became the first former champions to miss three World Cup finals in a row. The last time the Italians played at a World Cup was in 2014 when they crashed out in the group stage in Brazil.“The World Cup curse”, as described by the Italian media, will keep Donnarumma – one of the best goalkeepers in the world – and...
The Biggest Players Missing From the Fifa World Cup 2026
Home > Soccer > FIFA World Cup > The Biggest Players Missing From the Fifa World Cup 2026The Biggest Players Missing From the Fifa World Cup 2026The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will feature major absences, as eliminated national teams and last-minute injuries keep several of the world’s top football stars out of the tournament.The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the largest edition in history with 48 participating nations, but even the expanded format could not prevent several world-class absences. Between shocking eliminations, dramatic playoff defeats, and a devastating wave of injuries, many international stars will not be present in North America.The most significant absences are divided between players whose national teams failed to qualify and stars ruled out because of serious injuries suffered during the final stretch of the European season.One of the biggest names missing will be Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker from Galatasaray was left out of the World Cup after Nigeria’s surprising playoff elimination against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alongside him, Ademola Lookman, another of Africa’s biggest attacking stars, will also miss the tournament.Italy will once again be involved in one of international football’s biggest disappointments. The Azzurri failed to qualify and will miss a third consecutive World Cup. As a result, world-class players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Riccardo Calafiori will all be absent from the competition.Robert Lewandowski will not be present either. The legendary Polish striker lost the UEFA playoff final against Sweden and will miss what was likely his final major international tournament.Other European stars who failed to qualify include Dominik Szoboszlai with Hungary, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with Georgia, Benjamin Šeško with Slovenia, and Rasmus Højlund with Denmark.At the same time, the overloaded football calendar and the extreme physical demands of the modern game caused a brutal wave of injuries in the months leading up to the tournament.Brazil suffered one of the hardest blows with the loss of Rodrygo Goes. The Real Madrid attacker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear during a LaLiga match and was ruled out for several months. Brazil will also be without Éder Militão, who underwent surgery after suffering a serious muscle injury.Another young Brazilian star missing the tournament is Estêvão. The Chelsea player suffered a significant hamst...
Football: Who are the big stars missing from the FIFA World Cup 2026 ...
Many of the biggest names in men's football will convene for the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup (11 June-19 July), but there are several star players who will not be present on the pitch. While the tournament will feature a record 48 teams in North America, qualifying for the world's greatest stage saw a handful of powerhouse nations miss out.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Players set to miss tournament due to injuries
Many significant players suffered serious injuries during the current season and are not going to play the FIFA World Cup 2026 next month.
