Most notable teams to miss 2026 World Cup
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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup not too far away, it's time to start looking at who will be present, and more importantly, who won't be.
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This year marks the third straight World Cup that won’t have Italy. The Azzurri are tied with Germany for the most World Cups won (4), but have failed to qualify yet again. Fellow UEFA competitors Denmark and Poland will also be absent from this summer’s tournament. One of the best teams in Africa, Nigeria, also failed to qualify.
This year's World Cup will be held jointly in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with the final being held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Here's a look at the most notable nations that won't have a seat at the upcoming tournament.
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Biggest teams to miss 2026 World Cup
Italy (No. 12 in FIFA rankings)
Despite winning four World Cups in their international history and the 2021 UEFA EURO tournament, Italy will be watching this summer's World Cup at home. Historically, the Azzurri have had surpluses of talent come and go, but it's clear the country's best days are behind them.
The Italians fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina in penalty shootouts in their final World Cup qualifying match, despite opening the scoring in the 15th minute from a Moise Kean goal. Just before halftime, centerback Alessandro Bastoni received a red card for tackling a Bosnian player on a breakaway. Italy was forced to play the remainder of the game with 10 men and held their own until the 79th minute, when Haris Tabakovic equalized.
The Italian Football Federation will have some questions to answer about the country's future. The country is squandering star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's international career, as the man who started playing on the national team when he was just 17 is now 27.
Denmark (No. 20 in FIFA rankings)
Denmark also finds itself at a national team crossroads, after also failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing a penalty shootout to Czechia (No. 43). While Christian Eriksen's best football days are behind him, his Danish team should've been able to eventually qualify.
23-year-old Rasmus Hojlund has been a hot topic around the football world after his Manchester United-Napoli saga. The youngster was unable to bag a goal or assist in either of Denmark's playoff qualifiers against North Macedonia or Czechia. With captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg now age 30, Denmark's traditional midfield prowess may have the new faces next time around in 2030.
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Nigeria (No. 26 in FIFA rankings)
The Super Eagles are the most-notable African team to miss this year's World Cup. Nigeria failed to qualify to the upcoming tournament after losing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the CAF playoff final in penalties. Currently ranked No. 26 in the latest FIFA rankings, Nigeria will be missing the country's second-straight World Cup. Their absence from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was their first since 2006, and now they find themselves back at square one.
Nigeria is currently in a golden age of football talent, with Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze, but the nation will be unable to showcase its talent on the world's biggest stage yet again.
Poland (No. 35 in FIFA rankings)
This was Polish star Robert Lewandowski's last chance of representing his country at a World Cup, but after falling to Sweden 3-2 in their final qualifier, Poland has shattered this dream. Following the loss to the Swedes, Lewandowski took to Instagram, waving goodbye to the most storied international career in Polish football history.
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Russia (No. 36 in FIFA rankings)
One final notable name that will be absent at the 2026 World Cup is Russia. The country is still banned from all FIFA and UEFA tournaments due to the country's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the country was unsuccessful in its efforts. The 2018 World Cup hosts will continue to be banned from notable football events until further notice.