02.04.2026 22:30
As the 48 teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been determined, the star players from the countries that will not participate in the tournament will also be absent. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, is among the star players who will not be able to participate in the tournament due to his country's failure to qualify for the World Cup.
The 48 teams that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, organized by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, have been announced, while the star players of the countries that will not participate in the tournament will also miss the event.
Victor Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, is among the star players who will not be able to participate in the tournament due to Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, regarded as one of the best forwards in recent years, is also among the star scorers who will not be able to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (GALATASARAY AND NIGERIA)
Nigeria, which includes star striker Victor Osimhen, lost its chance to qualify for the World Cup after being defeated by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in penalties, despite having a second chance in the playoffs after the African qualifiers. The 27-year-old forward has scored 19 goals in 29 matches this season for Galatasaray, including 7 in the UEFA Champions League and 12 in the Super League.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (BARCELONA AND POLAND)
Polish Robert Lewandowski is among the players who will not be able to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite scoring 89 goals for his country, the 37-year-old forward of Barcelona saw his World Cup dream end after a 3-2 defeat against Sweden in the playoff final last Tuesday.
Having won the German Bundesliga championship 10 times, twice with Borussia Dortmund and eight times in a row with Bayern Munich, and later winning LaLiga twice with Barcelona, Lewandowski may have closed the chapter on the World Cup as he will be 41 years old in the 2030 World Cup.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (MANCHESTER CITY AND ITALY)
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma transferred to Premier League team Manchester City last September after helping French club Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League last season. After Italy won the 2020 European Championship, Donnarumma, who was named the tournament's best goalkeeper, missed the World Cup once again as his country lost 4-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in penalties last Tuesday.
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI (LIVERPOOL AND HUNGARY)
Liverpool and Hungary national team midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has been performing well this season. Szoboszlai will also miss the tournament due to Hungary's failure to succeed in the European qualifiers on the road to the World Cup.
KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA (PSG AND GEORGIA)
Georgian footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contributed to Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League victory last season and scored a goal in the final match where they defeated Inter 5-0. However, Georgia performed poorly in the World Cup qualifiers, collecting only three points in a group that included Spain, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
SERHOU GUIRASSY (BORUSSIA DORTMUND AND GUINEA)
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of the most prolific forwards in world football, scoring 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the last three seasons. Guirassy became the top scorer by finding the net 13 times in the UEFA Champions League 2024-2025 season. He will not be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to Guinea's elimination in the first round of the African qualifiers.
LOOKMAN, OBLAK, BARELLA, TONALI AND OTHERS
Among the players who will not participate in the World Cup are goalkeeper Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia), forward Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid and Nigeria), left-back Milos Kerkez (Liverpool and Hungary), defender Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest and Serbia), defender Willi Orban (Leipzig and Hungary), right-back Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest and Nigeria), midfielder Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United and Italy), Nicolo Barella (Inter and Italy), and winger Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United and Cameroon).