Lewandowski misses out on World Cup – who else won’t be there?

Lewandowski’s illustrious career spans over 700 goals across clubs and national teams. The Polish striker, now 37, will miss the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico after his nation fell to Sweden in a play-off final held in Stockholm. This loss marks the end of his journey in major international tournaments, though he remains a towering figure in football history.

Qualifying Disappointments

Italy’s three-year run of missing the World Cup continued after their 4-1 penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a standout performer in the Premier League this season, was instrumental in PSG’s Champions League triumph last year. Despite being the 2020 Euro Player of the Tournament, he will not be part of the 2026 squad.

Group Stage Showdowns

Turkey secured a 24-year absence from the World Cup, ending with a narrow 1-0 victory over Kosovo. Meanwhile, Guinea’s campaign faltered, finishing fourth in their group. Serhou Guirassy, who netted 62 Bundesliga goals in three seasons and 13 in the Champions League, missed the opportunity to represent his country in the final stages.

Georgian Struggles

Georgia’s World Cup qualifying campaign was lackluster, earning just one win from six matches. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who helped PSG win the Champions League last season, finished 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Despite his brilliance, his nation’s failure to advance from their group left him without a spot in the tournament.

Key Absences in 2026 Qualifying

Poland’s 2026 World Cup bid ended with a third-round exit after finishing three points behind the Netherlands. Lewandowski’s record in previous World Cups includes a group-stage elimination in 2018 and a last-16 run in 2022, where he scored twice. His absence this time leaves a void in Poland’s attack.

Standout Performances and Missed Chances

Victor Osimhen, who scored 26 goals for club and country this season, had a stellar year with Napoli and Galatasaray. However, Nigeria’s qualification hopes crumbled after a 2-0 loss to DR Congo in a play-off, despite finishing just one point behind South Africa in their group phase.

Unexpected Exits

Hungary’s World Cup dreams were dashed when they lost a dramatic 2-1 group match to the Republic of Ireland. Dominik Szoboszlai, who netted 12 goals for Liverpool this season, saw his country finish second in the group. Other notable absentees include Jan Oblak (Slovenia), Milos Kerkez (Hungary), and Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia), among others.

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