Best XI of Players Not Going to FIFA 2026 World Cup

The world’s most renowned and decorated soccer stars will descend upon North America this summer for the 2026 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are just some of the elite names seeking to guide their nation to glory at the tournament, but a thought must be spared for the superstars not attending the festival of soccer.

An array of world-class individuals represent nations who failed to qualify for the World Cup, but when coalesced into one star-studded starting XI, they form a classy team that would expect a deep run at the tournament.

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Gianluigi Donnarumma wincing. — Gianluigi Donnarumma still awaits his first World Cup appearance. | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Gianluigi Donnarumma has won the Champions League, European Championships and Yashin Trophy, but the towering Italian goalkeeper has never made an appearance at the World Cup. A debut must wait until 2030 at the earliest.

Italy became the first former world champion to fail to qualify for three successive World Cups after more playoff heartbreak in the March international period. Donnarumma was unable to conjure any magic in the Azzurri’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite ranking among the best goalkeepers on the planet, the Manchester City ace will watch events unfold from his couch this summer.

RB: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)

Dominik Szoboszlai has enjoyed the best season of his career despite Liverpool’s struggles, but the versatile midfielder’s campaign won’t extend beyond May. Hungary was unable to clinch its place at the World Cup after finishing behind Portugal and the Republic of Ireland in qualifying and missing out on a playoff berth altogether.

After such a talismanic campaign with the struggling Reds, Szoboszlai will be sorely missed in North America. The 25-year-old’s propensity to produce wonders won’t be enacted until next season begins on Merseyside.

Szoboszlai is a midfielder by trade, but regular use at right back this season allows us to squeeze him into the defense and free up room in our midfield.

CB: Nikola Milenković (Serbia)

The fact that almost all of the world’s best center backs will be at the 2026 World Cup underscores the importance of solid foundations. However, one impressive performer who will be absent is Serbia defender Nikola Milenković.

Serbia’s underwhelming qualification campaign saw them trail England and, somewhat surprisingly, Albania in the group phase, missing out on the playoffs like Hungary. That means a free summer for Milenković.

The Nottingham Forest star has not been as imperious this term as he was during an excellent campaign with the Premier League outfit last term, but he remains a defiant and physical presence in the backline.

CB: Alessandro Bastoni (Italy)

Alessandro Bastoni must shoulder significant blame for Italy’s failure to reach the World Cup. The Inter defender was sent off in the playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina just before halftime, the Azzurri already ahead at that phase of the game.

However, with only 10 men, Italy eventually conceded in the closing stages, Bosnia and Herzegovina then ultimately winning on penalties. Naturally, Bastoni has come under fire for his costly error.

Still, the Italian, who has been linked with a summer switch to Barcelona, remains an elite defender regardless of his sizeable error.

LB: Federico Dimarco (Italy)

Federico Dimarco is enjoying an incredible campaign with Inter, which has included six goals and 14 assists in Serie A alone from left wingback. While his attacking quality trumps his defensive acumen, he’s still capable of operating as an out-and-out left back.

Dimarco will be absolutely devastated to miss out on a chance to make his first World Cup appearance, especially given the confidence and quality he’s currently paying with at San Siro.

The Italian’s wicked left boot could have conjured some memorable moments this summer, but it will instead earn an unwanted rest.

CM: Sandro Tonali (Italy)

Sandro Tonali did everything in his power to push Italy to the tournament. A goal and assist in the playoff semifinal with Northern Ireland put the Azzurri in a commanding position to end their drought, but he was helpless to prevent the collapse in the final.

Tonali is expected to have a busy summer as his Newcastle United exit looks increasingly likely, but while his World Cup absence will help facilitate any lucrative transfer, he’s another Azzurri star who will be gutted to miss out on the drama in North America.

29 years old by the time the next World Cup rolls around, time is running out for Tonali.

CM: Nicolò Barella (Italy)

Nicolò Barella must be one of the most talented midfielders of the current generation to never have appeared at the World Cup. Despite representing a traditional international powerhouse, the Italy star’s agonizing wait goes on.

Barella has racked up 70 appearances for the Azzurri and was key to the country’s Euro 2020 triumph, but the 2030 World Cup appears almost certain to be the tenacious Inter star’s final shot at playing in international soccer’s most prestigious event.

The 29-year-old’s talents deserve a place at the tournament, but soccer is seldom that fair.

RW: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)

Bryan Mbeumo has had plenty of time to come to terms with his absence from this summer’s tournament. The Manchester United star is enjoying a terrific debut campaign at Old Trafford, but international disappointment will have soured his season somewhat.

Cameroon has been a World Cup regular over recent decades, but it finished surprise runners-up to Cape Verde in its main qualification campaign, then stumbling at the hands of DR Congo in the CAF playoff semifinal as it fought for a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs.

Mbeumo did make three appearances at the 2022 World Cup, but there will be at least an eight-year gap between his first tournament and his next.

ST: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

There are frankly a ludicrous number of amazing strikers who will sit out on the World Cup. Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Slovenia’s Benjamin Šeško, Denmark’s Rasmus Højlund and Serbia’s Dušan Vlahović are just a few of the stars not traveling to North America, and they are joined by the iconic Robert Lewandowski.

The veteran Barcelona striker had one last opportunity to make a World Cup with Poland as Father Time catches up with him, but a playoff final defeat to Sweden means he misses the chance to feature.

After making his competition debut in Qatar, it feels unjust that Lewandowski will only feature at one World Cup across his illustrious career.

ST: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

Another superstar striker left frustrated by his World Cup omission is Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray ace did his best to help Nigeria to a first World Cup since 2018 with a team-high eight goals in qualifying, but it simply wasn’t enough.

The Super Eagles, like Cameroon, were forced into the CAF playoffs after being bested by South Africa in the group stage, but they suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to DR Congo on penalties in the final.

Osimhen’s speed, tenacity and striker’s instincts will be absent in North America as a result, another of the world’s best center forwards missing out.

LW: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his international teammates were one of the feel-good stories of Euro 2024, but Georgia still awaits its World Cup debut as an independent nation. It didn’t even come close during qualifying for the 2026 tournament.

Even Kvaratskhelia was unable to propel Georgia to another major tournament, just three points accumulated from six group stage matches with Spain, Türkiye and Bulgaria. The winger scored twice, but was ultimately undermined by the ability of his teammates.

Perhaps the Paris Saint-Germain forward can make the cut in four year’s time.