Top 8 superstar who have failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
With less than seven months to go until the 2026 World Cup finals hosted across the Mexico, United States and Canada, anticipation is building for the group-stage draw in Washington DC on December 5th.
So far, forty-two countries have secured their places, with the remaining six spots to be filled by winners from the UEFA play-offs and intercontinental matches in March.
All the major powerhouses of global soccer will be present, including reigning champions Argentina, their long-time rivals Brazil, and the recent victors of Euro 2024, Spain and France.
This tournament is widely anticipated to be the final appearance for legendary Lionel Messi, while rising stars such as Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Jr., Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe will be eager to take the spotlight from the Argentine icon.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also poised to equal Messi’s record by participating in his sixth World Cup, leading Portugal once again.
Harry Kane will be shouldering England’s ambitions under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, and Erling Haaland is set to make his debut on the biggest international stage with a promising Norway squad.
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Several significant players will be competing fiercely for a place in the play-offs. However, for some nations, their World Cup dreams have already been dashed.
The qualification process has seen some surprising eliminations, including prominent teams from Africa, Europe and South America with strong World Cup histories.
Let’s take a look at the most prominent players who will unfortunately not be participating in next summer’s tournament in North America.
8. Serhou Guirassy (Striker at Borussia Dortmund)
Country: Guinea
If you have been watching him In recent years, very few forwards across European football have been as consistently high-scoring as Serhou Guirassy.
Beginning with the 2023-24 season, the Borussia Dortmund attacker has found the back of the net 75 times in all club competitions, even sharing the title of highest goalscorer in the previous Champions League tournament.
Therefore, Guinea had high expectations that he would translate this excellent form to international matches and lead them to their first ever World Cup appearance.
Unfortunately, Guirassy significantly underperformed, managing only a single goal during the qualification process.
This contributed to Guinea’s disappointing fourth-place finish in their group, trailing behind Algeria, Uganda, and Mozambique.
The team only managed to win four out of their ten games, and Guirassy was largely ineffective in the attacking areas.
7. Dusan Vlahovic (Striker at Juventus)
Country: Serbia
Serbia’s inability to reach the World Cup is a significant setback, marking their first absence since 2014, a failure that is likely to be particularly painful.
Their campaign was marred by disappointment, culminating in Dragan Stojkovic’s departure as head coach following a discouraging 1-0 loss at home to Albania in October. Their hopes were then officially extinguished after a 2-0 defeat to England at Wembley Stadium.
England progressed comfortably as group victors, securing a flawless record, while Albania achieved a historic milestone by reaching the play-offs for the first time.
In stark contrast, Serbia endured a disastrous qualification journey, and Dusan Vlahovic, in particular, struggled.
The talented forward managed a meager two goals and was largely ineffective in the crucial matches against England and Albania.
The Juventus player’s status as an elite striker remains unproven, leading to speculation about his future with the Italian club.
His international record of just 16 goals in 41 appearances has also failed to ignite the Serbian team, and his value is likely to decrease considerably when the next transfer window opens.
6. Bryan Mbeumo (Right–Winger at Manchester United)
Country: Cameroon
Bryan Mbeumo, a Manchester united baller born in the heart of France, initially played for the French national youth team.
However, in 2022, he made the significant choice to represent Cameroon, his father’s homeland. Now, a few years later, he might be questioning whether that was the right move.
Cameroon suffered a humiliating defeat to the much smaller nation of Cape Verde in the race for automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. This forced them into a challenging playoff against DR Congo.
Mbeumo played the entire match, alongside fellow professionals like Andre Onana and Carlos Baleba, but DR Congo emerged victorious with a late goal.
Mbeumo, who has managed only a handful of goals for Cameroon so far, squandered a golden opportunity in the second half and was widely noticed for his angry reaction after the game.
Cameroon boasts a strong World Cup pedigree, having participated more often than any other African country. But the present squad is a shadow of the legendary teams of previous generations.
Off-field issues have constantly hindered any real advancement lately, and the future appears uncertain, with the current coach potentially facing dismissal.
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Striker at Marseille)
Country: Gabon
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stands as a truly gifted goalscorer of his time, yet, heartbreakingly, he has never experienced the pinnacle of international football – the World Cup.
Following Gabon’s recent unsuccessful attempt to qualify, it seems highly probable that the veteran, now nearing the end of his career, will conclude his playing days without ever gracing the World Cup stage.
Gabon’s journey saw them secure a place in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) play-offs after finishing as runners-up in their group, a mere single point adrift of the Ivory Coast.
Aubameyang played a pivotal role in this achievement, contributing an impressive seven goals throughout the campaign.
His standout performance included a remarkable four-goal display in a captivating 4-3 triumph on the road against Gambia.
The experienced attacker, previously a key figure for renowned clubs like Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, and now back with Marseille, spearheaded Gabon’s attack in their crucial semi-final clash against Nigeria.
Despite a valiant effort, which saw Mario Lemina equalize late in the game to force extra time, Gabon ultimately succumbed to Nigeria’s superior energy and were defeated 4-1, with Victor Osimhen scoring twice.
Gabon’s quest to reach their first-ever World Cup continues, but their prospects will undoubtedly diminish once Aubameyang, their star player, retires from international football.
4. Benjamin Sesko (Striker at Manchester UnitedÂ
Country: Slovenia
Benjamin Sesko is currently experiencing a challenging phase early in his professional journey.
The young forward, who recently turned 22, has encountered difficulties adapting to Manchester United after his transfer from RB Leipzig this past summer.
His struggles have unfortunately continued during his time with the Slovenian national team, failing to regain his form.
Sesko was a constant presence in Slovenia’s initial four World Cup qualifying matches, playing every minute. However, he couldn’t contribute with either goals or assists, as the team managed to secure only three points out of a possible twelve.
Adding to his woes, a knee injury forced him to watch from the sidelines as Slovenia suffered a 2-0 defeat at home against Kosovo in November.
This loss effectively extinguished their slim chances of qualifying for the upcoming major tournament next summer.
Slovenia’s absence from major international competitions stretches back to 2010, and breaking this streak appears unlikely in the near future.
Apart from Sesko, the team lacks significant talent in its outfield players, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak being the only player who consistently performs at a high international standard.
While Sesko consistently gives his best effort, he can’t single-handedly transform the team’s fortunes.
Lacking adequate support and quality service, both Sesko and Slovenia are destined to continue struggling and achieving only modest results for the foreseeable future.
3. Dominik Szoboszlai (Attacking–Midfielder at Liverpool)
Country: Hungary
Group F proved to be a captivating and intensely competitive battleground in the European qualification journey, with the ultimate leaders not confirmed until the very last games.
Portugal emphatically secured the top position with a resounding 9-1 victory over Armenia. Meanwhile, Hungary’s hopes of clinching the second spot were dashed in the dying moments, thanks to a remarkable performance from Ireland’s Troy Parrott, who secured a hat-trick.
The ex-Tottenham attacker’s late goal, scored deep into injury time, sealed a 3-2 triumph for Ireland in Budapest, igniting joyous celebrations among the Irish team.
Conversely, Hungarian captain Dominik Szoboszlai was visibly devastated, overcome with emotion as his World Cup dreams slipped away.
While some Irish supporters may have interpreted Szoboszlai’s despair as a form of poetic justice – recalling his earlier controversial celebration of Hungary’s second goal – his contribution to Hungary’s campaign had been undeniable.
The Liverpool midfielder had played a pivotal role in their push toward qualification, and a place at the World Cup would have been a fitting reward for his significant contribution of goals and assists, including a spectacular late equalizer against Portugal.
His Liverpool colleague, Milos Kerkez, also demonstrated considerable skill, but ultimately, Hungary’s undoing was a lack of focus and determination. Consequently, their wait for a tenth appearance at the World Cup finals will continue for over four decades.
2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Left-winger at PSG)
Country: Georgia
Georgia’s unexpected and impressive performance at Euro 2024, where they reached the round of 16, was largely propelled by the dynamic Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
His magic dribbling and tireless energy were pivotal to their success. However, the Paris Saint-Germain star will be absent from the World Cup next year.
Although Kvaratskhelia managed to find the net twice during World Cup qualification, including a goal in a decisive 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, Georgia’s campaign faltered.
They suffered defeats in four of their last five matches, ultimately trailing far behind Spain and Turkey in Group E. A particularly demoralizing 4-1 loss on Turkish soil represented a low point.
Manager Willy Sagnol now faces the challenge of rebuilding a team low on morale, particularly as their roster lacks players who can rival Kvaratskhelia’s exceptional talent. He needs to rethink his approach to revitalise the squad.
1. Victor Osimhen (Striker at Galatasaray)
Country: Nigeria
Nigeria’s hopes of competing in back-to-back World Cups have been dashed following a stunning loss to DR Congo in the African final qualifying round.
Considered strong contenders to advance to the final intercontinental playoff stage in March after a victory over Gabon, the Super Eagles were surprisingly defeated by DR Congo after a demanding match that concluded with a penalty shootout.
The match ended in a 1-1 tie after regular time, with Nigeria’s offensive capabilities diminishing significantly following the substitution of their key striker, Osimhen, at halftime due to a leg injury.
While DR Congo arguably deserved a second goal, fortune favored them in the penalty shootout, where they secured a 4-3 win.
This outcome is particularly disappointing considering the perceived talent of Nigeria’s current squad.
The absence of a prominent player like Osimhen, currently playing for Galatasaray and considered one of the top forwards globally, will be deeply felt when the World Cup begins.
He was a key contributor in the qualifying stages with eight goals, but his teammates did not perform at a similar level.
Several players, including Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey, and Wilfred Ndidi, failed to meet expectations and will need to critically assess their performances.
The outcome might have been different had Osimhen not been sidelined for three matches due to injury, highlighting Nigeria’s over-reliance on his abilities.
By the time the next World Cup arrives, he will be 30 years old, meaning his peak years may not be showcased on the global stage.
