Gigi Donnarumma, Lewandowski, Osimhen and stars missing the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico will feature 48 teams, and pre-tournament favourites such as Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina all made it through. Yet qualifying also produced a string of shock absences, with several of the game's biggest names failing to reach North America.

Italy missed a third straight World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving Manchester City goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma — the reigning Yashin Trophy winner and Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament — without a finals appearance. Robert Lewandowski watched on after Poland fell to Sweden in the UEFA play-offs, a defeat that could yet mark the end of the 37-year-old's international career.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who fuelled Georgia’s surprise run at Euro 2024, could not lift his country past Spain and Turkey in qualifying despite scoring twice.

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