After the 2022 World Cup had 32 groups, the has 48. Nonetheless, there have been nonetheless some World Cup stalwarts that missed out regardless of the event’s enlargement.
Right here’s a have a look at the perfect groups you received’t see taking part in on this summer time’s World Cup, co-hosted by america, and . And that checklist is topped by a perennial energy that’s going by way of an unprecedented interval of malaise.
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It’s nearly unfathomable that the 2026 World Cup is the third straight event with out the Italians.
A nation that has 4 World Cups to its title and one simply 20 years in the past has not made the World Cup since 2014. The perennial contenders have completely cratered. It wasn’t that way back that Italy entered each World Cup with a believable path to the title. As an alternative, the Italians’ unsolvable equation has merely change into about the way to qualify.
Italy missed out on this World Cup because of a dreadful efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout one of many UEFA finals to make the event. After ending a distant second to in Group I of World Cup qualifying, Italy was despatched to the playoffs, the place it needed to win two video games to make the newly expanded World Cup.
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The Italians had been drawn right into a four-team bracket with Wales, Northern Eire and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who received the proper to host the ultimate with a win over Wales. The Bosnians beat the Welsh in penalty kicks, whereas Italy eased previous Northern Eire 2-0.
Every part fell aside within the playoff ultimate, nevertheless. put Italy up 1-0 within the fifteenth minute, however was given a straight crimson card within the forty first minute for a determined sort out. With all the way down to 10 males for the remainder of the match, a Bosnian equalizer was inevitable. It lastly occurred within the 79th minute earlier than the sport went to penalties. There, the Italians scored simply as soon as, earlier than Bosnia closed it out within the fourth spherical of kicks.
of Italy reacts after the Italians had been eradicated from the 2026 World Cup {qualifications} in penalty kicks vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Picture Picture Company through Getty Photographs)Poland
The 2026 World Cup may have been star striker ’s ultimate second on the world stage. As an alternative, like Italy, Poland went out within the UEFA playoffs.
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Poland had certified for every of the previous two World Cups and made the Spherical of 16 in 2022 after ending second in Group C to . However the Polish completed three factors behind the in Group G of UEFA’s qualifying.
That despatched Poland right into a four-team bracket with Ukraine, and Albania. After beating Albania 2-1, Poland performed Sweden for the prospect to make the World Cup. However Sweden, which had simply two ties in eight World Cup qualifying video games and made the playoffs because of its Nations League efficiency, received the ultimate 3-2 to make the World Cup.
Lewandowski, 37, made it appear to be his future with the Polish workforce was over after the loss to Sweden. He hasn’t formally mentioned he’s executed, nevertheless it’s laborious to see how he can be round for the 2030 World Cup if Poland qualifies.
The best participant in Poland historical past, Lewandowski has 89 targets in 166 appearances for his nation. And the following chapter of his skilled profession may are available america. Lewandowski joined from after the 2021-22 season and isn’t returning to the La Liga champions. Chicago Fireplace coach Gregg Berhalter has mentioned he desires Lewandowski on his workforce. Will that occur after the World Cup?
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Considered one of CONCACAF’s World Cup stalwarts can be conspicuously absent this summer time. Costa Rica has certified for six World Cups prior to now 36 years however did not qualify for 2026. The 2022 World Cup was the fifth time Costa Rica had certified during the last six World Cup cycles.
Twelve years in the past, Costa Rica shocked the world by profitable the Group of Dying in , which additionally included , Italy and . The Costa Ricans beat each Uruguay and Italy and tied with England to high the group with seven factors.
After making each the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Costa Rica’s hopes of a fourth-straight look disappeared throughout qualifying. Grouped with , Honduras and Nicaragua, Costa Rica acquired seven factors throughout six video games. A 1-0 loss to the Haitians was the workforce’s undoing, as the alternative consequence would have received the group for Costa Rica and prevented Haiti from making the World Cup.
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Yet one more UEFA workforce that went out within the playoffs made this checklist. The Danes made their first World Cup look in 1986 and appeared in 5 since lacking the 1990 and 1994 tournaments.
In 2020, Denmark completed third within the Euros after ending second in Group B to and making the knockout rounds on objective differential over Finland and Russia. Two years later, Denmark was eradicated from the World Cup within the group stage earlier than being eradicated within the Spherical of 16 in Euro 2024.
Penalty kicks stored the Danes out of the 2026 World Cup. Denmark was the favourite in Path D of UEFA’s playoffs and had a simple 4-0 win over North Macedonia within the semifinals. Nonetheless. Denmark tied Czechia 2-2 within the ultimate and misplaced 3-1 on penalties to overlook out on the World Cup.
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One of many trendy African World Cup stalwarts can be conspicuously absent in america.
Nigeria had made every of the previous three World Cups and 6 of the final seven tournaments earlier than failing to qualify in 2026. Nigeria was drawn into Pot C within the CAF qualifiers but in addition had and Benin in its group. South Africa scored 18 factors over 10 video games, whereas each Nigeria and Benin had 17.
Nigeria made it to the second spherical of qualifying because of a plus-7 objective differential. After a 4-1 win in further time over Gabon, Nigeria met DR Congo for the prospect to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs for the World Cup.
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Like so many others on this checklist, penalty kicks had been the Nigerians’ demise. The groups tied 1-1 after 120 minutes and DR Congo received 4-3 on penalty kicks.
Cameroon
The African nation with essentially the most World Cup appearances received’t be within the 2026 World Cup.
Cameroon has made eight World Cups and first certified in 1982 as an impartial nation. However the Indomitable Lions are lacking simply their third World Cup since 1986.
Cameroon completed second in Group D of CAF’s qualifying to . It wasn’t all that shut, both. Cape Verde received the group by 4 factors regardless of Cameroon’s higher objective differential. That compelled Cameroon to the African playoffs, the place the DR Congo took out the Cameroonians. An added-time objective by heart again gave DR Congo a 1-0 win and eradicated Cameroon from World Cup competition.