Euro Champion in 2021 and champion of champions with PSG in 2025, the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma I was 15 years old when Italy played its last World Cup in 2014a drought that will last at least 16 years after the absences from Russia 2028, Qatar 2022 and the United States, Mexico and Canada 2026 after losing this Wednesday in the final of the European play-off against Bosnia in the penalty shootout.
The best player of Euro 2020 and The Best of FIFA 2025 award is, jtogether with the Polish Robert Lewandowskione of the big absences of the next FIFA World Cup with the Nigerian Victor Osimhenthe danish Rasmus Hoejlundthe Slovenian Jan Oblak or the Cameroonians Etta Eyong, Enzo Boyomo and Andrew Onanaamong others, with historical selections such as Chile, Peru, Costa Rica or Venezuela, Also absent next summer’s World Cup event.
It will not, therefore, be Gianluigi Donnarumma’s first World Cup, nor will it be the Slovenian Jan Oblak’s, nor will he be the third and last Robert Lewandowski, who will have to settle for his 2 goals in the 7 World Cup matches played -Russia 2028 and Qatar 2022-.
Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo complete the teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup
Nor will fans be able to enjoy this summer what is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, the Atlético de Madrid’s Slovenian Jan Oblakafter a qualifying phase where his team was far from reaching the European playoffs, third in group B with 4 points behind the unattainable Switzerland (14 points) and Kosovo Federation (11 points).
For the first time since Euro 2016, Denmark has failed to qualify for a major tournament after be defeated in the penalty shootout against the Czech Republic in the UEFA play-offs. Already in November he was only a few minutes away from securing his place, but the two goals conceded against Scotland condemned them to a play-off that was fatal for their interests and for that of their star striker, Rasmus Hoejlund, whose 5 points In the qualifying phase they are only for statistics.
Georgia, one of the revelations of Euro 2024, and its star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia They will also not be in the World Cup showcase after finishing third, behind Spain and Türkiye, in Group E, with a humiliating 4-1 away defeat against Türkiye.
Without African stars Oshimen and Aubameyang
The football planet will also miss the absence of Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray star who scored eight goals in qualifying, but was uninspired by teammates Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey and Wilfred Ndidi. The Super Águilas, who started as clear favorites to qualify for the intercontinental play-offs, They were eliminated by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a match that was finally decided on penalties.
In the preliminary round where Nigeria beat Gabon (4-1) to meet with the Republic of the Congo, another of the best forwards of the current generation, the Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangsaid goodbye to his aspirations of playing in his first World Cup.
And it was precisely the DR Congo that dismounted another of the African favorites, Cameroonso they will not be a footballer of the talent of Etta Eyong, Enzo Boyomo or Andrew Onana.
Other illustrious people like Chilean Alexis Sánchez or the Costa Rican Keylor Navas Nor will they be from June 11, 2026 in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada after the former did not overcome the South American Qualifiers, and the latter after finishing third in group C of the CONCACAF Qualifiers.
