World Cup Heartbreak: Star Players Who'll Miss Football's Biggest Stage in 2026

The FIFA World Cup stands as football's ultimate showcase, yet several prominent figures will be absent from next summer's tournament.

Qualification rounds for the North American celebration are nearing completion worldwide, with a significant portion of the 48 participating nations already securing their places.

Naturally, the event will feature an abundance of superstars, with reputations destined to be established, enhanced, damaged, or developed - such is the magnitude of World Cup competition.

It's a spectacle no one wants to miss, and despite FIFA's expansion efforts, fewer than 25% of the federation's member nations will participate in North America. Many will be watching from the sidelines, including several prominent talents.

Below are the top players who will be absent from the 2026 World Cup.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Hungary has proven to be resilient competitors under Italian coach Marco Rossi, appearing positioned to secure at least a playoff spot in UEFA's qualification campaign entering the November international window.

Their prospects brightened following a narrow victory against Armenia, with the Republic of Ireland traveling to Budapest needing an uncommon road win to overtake their opponents. Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai wore the Hungarian captain's armband once more and appeared exceptional, as Rossi's team established 1-0 and 2-1 advantages in the opening period.

A draw would have sufficed for Szoboszlai's team, but Troy Parrott, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward now competing in Dutch football, netted twice in the closing ten minutes to deliver one of Ireland's greatest historic victories. They'll advance to March's playoffs at Hungary's cost, leaving Szoboszlai, an impressive performer for Liverpool despite their struggles this campaign, as a spectator.

His country hasn't reached the World Cup since 1986.

Benjamin Sesko

Benjamin Šeško appeared on the global stage representing Slovenia during Euro 2024, with his campaign remembered for his missed one-versus-one opportunity that could have shocked Portugal in the knockout phase.

World Cup qualification proved disappointing for the promising Manchester United striker, as Slovenia was eliminated after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Kosovo on the second-to-last matchday.

Šeško will have numerous future chances to represent his nation at the World Cup, though he hasn't yet demonstrated the ability to single-handedly elevate his team's performance.

Bryan Mbeumo

The November international break proved frustrating for Manchester United attackers, as Cameroon's World Cup aspirations were crushed by DR Congo.

Bryan Mbeumo's squad received a second chance despite placing second in their qualification group. As one of the four top-performing runners-up, they advanced to the playoff stage but fell in their semifinal match. DR Congo then defeated Nigeria in a penalty shootout in the final, earning their spot in the intercontinental playoffs.

At least Mbeumo has previous experience representing Cameroon on football's biggest stage. The winger featured three times in Qatar, where the African nation was eliminated in the group phase. They did, however, participate in one of 2022 World Cup's most memorable matches, sharing a thrilling 3-3 draw with Serbia.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Willy Sagnol's Georgia emerged as one of Euro 2024's surprise packages, combining solid defensive organization with two creative forces in their attacking third.

Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia spearheaded their efforts in Germany, and the explosive winger capped off an outstanding 2024-25 season by helping PSG claim Champions League success.

Nevertheless, 'Kvaradona', nicknamed for his brilliant performances in Naples, won't be dazzling audiences across North America next summer. Georgia struggled in their qualifying group, with Spain dominating proceedings and Turkey crucially defeating them in both encounters.

Dusan Vlahovic

Serbia has historically underperformed at major competitions, but they won't even get the opportunity to disappoint those who would inevitably examine their squad's quality and label them as the 'surprise package' for the 2026 World Cup.

Serbia has finally made an overdue coaching change, with Dragan Stojković stepping down in October and Veljko Paunović taking charge. Some might suggest that Serbia's talent pool has been consistently overvalued, with Dušan Vlahović, for instance, not developing into the striker many expected when he moved from Fiorentina to Juventus in 2023.

There are tactical conflicts between Vlahović and Aleksandar Mitrović, with Stojković unable to discover a system that optimized both strikers' contributions.

Serbia managed only nine goals in eight qualifying matches, with Vlahović contributing two. They fell short of second place by a single point to Albania.

Victor Osimhen

FIFA's fifth-ranked African team will miss the 2026 World Cup following their penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the CAF playoff final.

Their qualification campaign was chaotic throughout, with coaching changes and player boycotts creating widespread instability. They barely reached the playoffs after finishing second to South Africa in their group, which represented a significant disappointment.

This Nigerian roster possesses considerable talent, with striker Victor Osimhen serving as their primary star. Though he's currently playing outside Europe's top leagues, he remains among Africa's premier center-forwards.

With the Super Eagles also absent from the 2022 tournament, Osimhen will be 31 when he potentially makes his World Cup debut in 2030.