World Cup 2026: Which star players will miss the tournament?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will include 48 teams, featuring both young talents and experienced players. Several high-profile stars will not participate because their countries did not qualify or because of injury-related absences. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a feared European winger and Paris Saint-Germain’s most creative player, will miss the tournament because Georgia failed to qualify. Robert Lewandowski, a 37-year-old Barcelona striker, will also be absent after Poland narrowly missed qualification, leaving him with only two World Cup appearances and a best finish of reaching the last 16 in 2022. Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive time further reduces the number of major players attending.

"One of the most feared wingers in European football, Kvaratskhelia will not be on the plane to North America as his country, Georgia, failed to qualify for the finals in June and July. The Paris Saint-Germain winger, the standout player in the Champions League this season, is yet to play at a World Cup. His last major tournament with Georgia ended in a round-of-16 run at Euro 2024."

"A teary-eyed Lewandowski left the pitch after Poland's final World Cup qualifier on March 31 as the nation narrowly missed out on the 2026 edition. The 37-year-old Barcelona striker even hinted at international retirement after the failure to qualify but has yet to confirm the decision. Lewandowski has played a record 165 games for Poland, beginning with a goal on his debut against San Marino in 2008 when he was 20."

"His 89 goals are nearly twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has played at the World Cup only twice with a last-16 finish in 2022 being the best result. The 2026 edition was probably Lewandowski's last chance of featuring at another World Cup."

"Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time means the tournament will be"

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