After Italy, a four-time champion, failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, star players like Gianluigi Donnarumma will not participate in the upcoming tournament. Several prominent players, including Brazil’s Rodrigo and Germany’s Serge Gnabry, will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injuries. Notable footballers such as Argentina’s Paulo Dybala and France’s Eduardo Camavinga also failed to secure a spot in their national teams. Kathmandu, May 25 – As the world’s premier football event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, approaches, discussions are intensifying around the participating teams and players. The 48 qualifying teams are currently in the process of announcing their preliminary squads. While many teams have already revealed their final 26-member rosters, some have only published preliminary lists. FIFA has mandated that all participants submit their final squad lists by June 2. Several renowned players are notably absent from these preliminary lists. Some players will not feature due to their national teams failing to qualify, while others are sidelined by injuries.
Despite the 2026 World Cup being hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and featuring a record 48 teams, some strong sides, including former champions Italy, could not secure qualification, thereby preventing their players from competing on football’s biggest stage. Italy was eliminated for the third consecutive time after losing the playoff to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, Italy’s talented goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, midfielder Sandro Tonali, and defender Alessandro Bastoni will miss out on the World Cup. Similarly, two major African nations, Cameroon and Nigeria, also failed to qualify this year. Cameroon, a five-time runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations, will be without key players like Brown Embuema, and Nigeria will miss forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
