The World Cup is undeniably football’s grandest stage, but when the 2026 tournament kicks off this summer, several massive names will be noticeably absent. Following a grueling qualification campaign full of upsets and heartbreak, we take a look at the biggest international stars who will not be playing in North America.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Have we seen the last of Robert Lewandowski at a World Cup? It certainly seems likely. Poland narrowly missed out on the 2026 tournament after suffering a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Sweden in their critical playoff match.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation, Lewandowski has netted a staggering 89 goals in 165 appearances for his country. The 37-year-old was left in tears at the final whistle in Stockholm—a devastating defeat that could very well signal the end of his illustrious international career.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
In one of the most astonishing statistics in modern football, Italy will miss their third consecutive World Cup. The four-time world champions were knocked out in the playoffs after a shocking penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The reigning Yashin Trophy winner, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was unable to save a single spot-kick as the Azzurri fell 4-1 on penalties following misses from Bryan Cristante and Francesco Pio Esposito. Astonishingly, Italy’s last knockout game at a World Cup remains the 2006 final when they won the tournament.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
Despite being a rare bright spot in a disappointing season for Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai could not drag Hungary over the finish line. Carrying the weight of his nation’s expectations, the midfielder was in superb form during qualifying, registering a goal and four assists in six games.
Unfortunately, Marco Rossi’s squad blew a late lead in their final fixture against Ireland, completely missing out on the playoff spots.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Nigeria represents arguably the most high-profile African absentee from the 2026 tournament. The Super Eagles endured a miserable qualification run where a frustrating series of draws forced them into the playoffs.
There, they suffered penalty heartbreak against DR Congo. For Victor Osimhen, who recently bagged seven goals in 10 Champions League games for Galatasaray, the wait for a World Cup debut continues. Having also missed out in 2022, the prolific striker will be 31 by the time the next tournament rolls around.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the hero of Georgia’s historic run to the Euro 2024 knockout stages, inspiring his nation to their first-ever major tournament. However, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar could not replicate that fairy-tale magic for the World Cup.
Georgia struggled heavily in their qualification group, managing just a single victory in six games, bringing an abrupt end to Kvaratskhelia’s hopes of showcasing his talents on the global stage this summer.
