The FIFA World Cup serves as the ultimate platform for the game’s elite athletes to showcase their talents and strive for the honor of hoisting football’s most esteemed trophy. However, several renowned players will miss the tournament, either due to injuries or the shock of not being selected for their national squads. As the 2026 men’s World Cup approaches, set to begin on Thursday, let’s examine which high-profile players won’t be joining their teams.
The Real Madrid defender is celebrated as one of the top attacking fullbacks globally. His prowess in set pieces and crossing was instrumental in securing his transfer from Liverpool a year ago. However, after a season marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, the 27-year-old was left out of the England squad, with manager Thomas Tuchel opting for Reece James, Djed Spence, and Tino Livramento as his right-back choices.
The Chelsea forward enjoyed a remarkable debut season at Stamford Bridge, netting 20 goals across all competitions after moving from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer. Yet, he has been overlooked by Brazil’s coach Carlo Ancelotti; despite his impressive club performance, João Pedro’s struggle to find the back of the net in eight senior appearances for the Seleção led to his exclusion in favor of Brentford‘s Igor Thiago and the injury-prone Neymar.
The Real Madrid fullback faced a challenging season, managing just 23 appearances due to injuries. He seemed poised for inclusion in the Spain squad after finishing the campaign fit but was ultimately passed over by coach Luis de la Fuente, citing concerns over his fitness despite acknowledging the veteran’s value to the team.
Manchester United’s defender Harry Maguire finds himself missing a third consecutive World Cup, even after a strong season at Old Trafford that secured him a contract renewal. Tuchel described Maguire as his “fifth-choice” center back. Although he anticipated disappointment, the reality of his exclusion from the World Cup squad still left him “absolutely shocked.”
Cole Palmer | 24 | England | Forward
The Chelsea forward’s last season was marred by a groin injury that sidelined him for nearly three months, limiting him to just 11 goals and three assists. Despite these challenges, many expected Palmer to be included in the England roster due to his potential and previous clutch performances, such as scoring in the Euro 2024 final and the FIFA Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Liverpool forward was expected to secure a spot in Didier Deschamps’s France squad, but a severe Achilles tendon injury in April has sidelined him until early 2027. Ekitike, 23, had a productive season at Liverpool, scoring 17 goals in 45 matches following his £79 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt, earning him a debut call-up to the national team.
Spain will enter the World Cup without a single player from Real Madrid, a surprising development considering the absence of the former AFC Bournemouth defender. The 21-year-old’s exclusion raised eyebrows, especially after he shared a social media post highlighting his selection in LaLiga’s team of the season, seemingly questioning coach De la Fuente’s decision.
Estêvão | 19 | Brazil | Forward
After making headlines with Palmeiras during last year’s FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea’s winger Estêvão was anticipated to be a rising star in the Brazilian squad this summer. Sadly, a hamstring injury sustained in March has ruled him out of Ancelotti’s plans.
Phil Foden | 26 | England | Forward
The Manchester City forward has struggled to duplicate his club form with the national team, netting only four goals in 49 matches. Coupled with his declining stature at City this season, where he started in just over half of the games, his combination of subpar club performance and historical struggles with England made his exclusion from the squad a straightforward decision for Tuchel.
After participating in the World Cup final for France against Argentina in Qatar 2022, the Real Madrid midfielder will not join Les Bleus this summer. Deschamps explained this decision was due to Camavinga’s “challenging season with injuries,” compounded by France’s depth in midfield, leading to the 23-year-old’s omission.
A Bayern Munich prospect was anticipated to shine at this World Cup but unfortunately suffered a muscle injury during training with Julian Nagelsmann’s squad in North Carolina, forcing him out of the tournament. Despite a solid debut season, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists, he now faces a lengthy recovery back in Munich rather than participating in the World Cup.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen | 34 | Germany | Goalkeeper
The Barcelona goalkeeper won’t join the Germany squad following a disheartening season in LaLiga. A loan move in January to Girona aimed at reviving his career, but a torn hamstring limited him to just two appearances, preventing him from aiding Girona’s relegation battle or his own World Cup aspirations.
Rodrygo | 25 | Brazil | Forward
The Real Madrid winger appeared to be a sure starter for Brazil, thanks to his strong rapport with former Madrid coach Ancelotti. Unfortunately, a cruciate ligament injury obtained in March will keep him sidelined, meaning he will spend the summer focusing on rehabilitation instead of contributing to Brazil’s sixth World Cup quest.