Italy fails to qualify for its third consecutive FIFA World Cup, joining other top nations and elite players on the sidelines.

The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is set to miss some of football's most iconic figures. Among the most surprising omissions is Poland's prolific striker, Robert Lewandowski, who at 37 years old, may have played his final major international tournament for his country.

Lewandowski, the Barcelona superstar, was unable to inspire his team to victory in their crucial play-off final. Poland suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday, extinguishing their hopes of reaching the tournament finals.

This shocking news is just one of several high-profile absences that will impact the global spectacle this summer. Many other top players and national teams, including European champions Italy, will also be watching from home, according to reporting by BBC Sport - Nigeria (Super Eagles).

Robert Lewandowski's World Cup Heartbreak and Poland's Exit

For one of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Robert Lewandowski's journey to the 2026 World Cup ended in disappointment. The veteran forward, who has scored an incredible 89 goals for Poland, saw his team's qualification hopes vanish after their loss to Sweden.

Lewandowski's illustrious club career includes 10 German Bundesliga titles (two with Borussia Dortmund and eight consecutive with Bayern Munich) and two La Liga titles with Barcelona. Despite scoring four goals in Poland's Group G qualifying campaign, his efforts were not enough to secure a direct spot or win the subsequent play-off.

His World Cup history includes captaining Poland in 2018 where he failed to score, and a more successful 2022 campaign in Qatar where he netted twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France. This latest exclusion marks a somber note for a legendary career.

European Powerhouses and Star Goalkeepers Miss Out

The biggest shock arguably comes from Italy, who will miss their third consecutive World Cup finals. Despite having one of the world's best goalkeepers, Gianluigi Donnarumma, the reigning Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament, Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Donnarumma, who joined Manchester City from Paris Saint-Germain for £26 million in September and helped PSG win the Champions League last season, will once again be absent from football's biggest stage. This follows Italy's previous failures to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Hungary also faced heartbreak, with Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai missing out after his country squandered a 2-1 lead against the Republic of Ireland, conceding two injury-time goals that allowed Ireland to snatch a play-off spot and eliminate Hungary.

African and Georgian Talents Sidelined for the 2026 Tournament

Several prominent talents from African nations will also be absent from the 2026 World Cup. Nigeria's star striker, Victor Osimhen, who led Napoli to the Serie A title in 2023 and scored 26 goals in 30 games to help Galatasaray win the Turkish title last season, will not feature.

Nigeria drew five of their ten matches in the first group phase, finishing one point behind winners South Africa. They then lost on penalties to DR Congo in a subsequent play-off, with Osimhen already substituted. Similarly, Guinea's prolific striker Serhou Guirassy, who scored 62 Bundesliga goals in the past three seasons and a leading 13 goals in the 2024-25 Champions League, is out after Guinea finished fourth in their African qualifying group.

From Europe, Georgia's attacking sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also misses out. Kvaratskhelia, who helped Paris Saint-Germain become European champions and finished 12th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards, saw Georgia pick up only three points in a tough qualifying group that included Spain, Turkey, and Bulgaria.

A Look at Other Notable Players Missing the World Cup

Beyond these headline names, a host of other talented players will also be absent from the World Cup festivities scheduled for June and July. This includes goalkeepers like Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia) and defenders such as Milos Kerkez (Liverpool and Hungary), Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest and Serbia), and Willi Orban (RB Leipzig and Hungary).

Other significant players missing include defenders Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal and Italy) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest and Nigeria), along with Matty Cash (Aston Villa and Poland). Midfielders like Sandro Tonali (Newcastle and Italy) and winger Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United and Cameroon) round out a formidable list of players who will be watching the tournament from afar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Robert Lewandowski not playing in the 2026 World Cup?

Robert Lewandowski's national team, Poland, failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing 3-2 to Sweden in their play-off final on Tuesday, March 30, 2026.

Which major European nations failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

Italy and Hungary are among the prominent European nations that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Italy, notably, has now missed three consecutive World Cup tournaments.

Will Gianluigi Donnarumma play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

No, Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper and Euro 2020 Player of the Tournament, will not play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Italy failed to qualify, losing on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Are there any African star strikers missing the 2026 World Cup?

Yes, two top African strikers, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Serhou Guirassy of Guinea, will both miss the 2026 World Cup after their respective national teams failed to qualify through the African preliminary rounds and play-offs.

Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being held?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted across North America by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, making it a truly continental event.