The biggest countries, and biggest stars, who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is the biggest in history, with 48 nations competing across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

But for fans of some of the world's most famous football nations, this summer brings only frustration. Nigeria’s Super Eagles are famously absent from this tournament, but there’s plenty of other great football nations who missed out. Here are the major teams that failed to qualify.

The story that refuses to go away in world football. Italy, four-time world champions, will not be at a World Cup for the third consecutive tournament. For context, that is a 12-year absence from the biggest stage in football for a nation that won the whole thing in 2006.

The Azzurri struggled throughout qualifying, failing to find consistency against a Norway side built around Erling Haaland. They reached the play-offs but fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali, two of the best players in Europe, will be watching at home.

Nigeria have been one of Africa's most consistent World Cup nations, appearing in six of the last eight tournaments. Not this time.

The Super Eagles lost their African play-off to DR Congo on penalties, ending their qualification hopes. Victor Osimhen, one of the best strikers in the world and a player Brazilian fans will know well from Serie A, will not feature. Neither will Ademola Lookman, who has been in outstanding form. A significant absence from the tournament.

Nigerian fans will still be watching the World Cup though, especially with many other teams from Africa, like South Africa, participating in the tournament. If you’re looking to bet on the World Cup as it unfolds, African fans can use this Easybet promo code from GOAL to get started.

Poland, with one of the greatest strikers of his generation leading them, lost 3-2 to Sweden in the play-off final and missed out on qualification. Robert Lewandowski, 37, left the pitch in Stockholm a broken man, and posted a photo to social media set to the song "Time to Say Goodbye" hours after the final whistle.

Poland finished second in their qualifying group behind the Netherlands before their play-off elimination. For a player of Lewandowski's stature, missing what would likely have been his last World Cup is one of the tournament's sourest stories.

For Brazilian fans, CONMEBOL qualifying might be familiar and comfortable territory. For Chilean supporters, it has become a recurring nightmare.

La Roja finished bottom of the South American qualifying table, winning just two of their 18 matches. Six CONMEBOL nations made it through: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Chile and Peru were left behind.

It is a remarkable fall for a nation that won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016. Chile will now be hoping to end a run that, by the time the next World Cup comes around, will stretch to 16 years without qualifying.

Africa has more representation than ever at this World Cup, with 10 teams qualifying. Cameroon, one of the continent's most storied sides, are not among them.

The Indomitable Lions were eliminated from contention by Cape Verde in their qualifying group, finishing behind the island nation who went on to face Spain in the group stage. Cameroon still have talent in their squad, but the gap between them and Africa's leading nations has grown.