Several top players will not feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their countries failed to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Nigeria forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski are among the high-profile names absent after their countries failed to secure qualification.
Lewandowski’s side lost 3-2 to Sweden in a play-off final in Stockholm, Nigeria were beaten on penalties by DR Congo, while Denmark also failed to progress from their qualifying campaign.
Sporting Tribune looks at eight players who will miss the competition.Full list of 2026 World Cup teams confirmed after play-offs
Victor Osimhen
Osimhen will miss the World Cup after Nigeria failed to qualify.
Nigeria finished just behind South Africa in their group after drawing five matches, before losing on penalties to DR Congo in the play-offs.
Osimhen had been central to the team’s campaign and also featured during the qualifiers.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma will not be at the World Cup after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina.The goalkeeper, who played a key role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph, has now missed three consecutive World Cups with his country following earlier failures in 2018 and 2022.
Ademola Lookman
Lookman will also miss the tournament following Nigeria’s failure to qualify.
The forward played a role in Nigeria’s qualifying campaign but could not help the team secure a place at the finals.
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund will not be at the World Cup after Denmark failed to qualify.
The striker featured during the qualifiers, but Denmark fell short in their bid to reach the tournament.Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy will be absent after Guinea failed to progress beyond the group stage of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group.
The Borussia Dortmund striker has been among the leading scorers in Europe in recent seasons but could not help his country secure a place.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia misses out after Georgia endured a difficult campaign, managing only one win in a group that included Spain and Turkey.
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski scored four goals during the qualifiers, but Poland finished behind the Netherlands in their group.They were then beaten by Sweden in the play-off final, ending their hopes of reaching the tournament.
Lewandowski featured at the 2018 and 2022 editions, scoring twice in Qatar as Poland reached the round of 16.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai will not be at the World Cup after Hungary failed to advance from their group.
Hungary needed to avoid defeat in their final match but conceded twice late on against the Republic of Ireland, which ended their qualification hopes.
Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo will also be absent after Cameroon failed to secure qualification.Cameroon could not do enough in their campaign to book a place at the finals.
Sandro Tonali
Tonali joins the list following Italy’s exit in the play-offs.
Despite their efforts, Italy could not secure a place at the tournament, extending their absence from the World Cup.
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