Most notable teams to miss 2026 World Cup

Most notable teams to miss 2026 World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . With the 2026 FIFA World Cup not too far away, it's time to start looking at who will be present, and more importantly, who won't be.

This year marks the third straight World Cup that won’t have Italy. The Azzurri are tied with Germany for the most World Cups won (4), but have failed to qualify yet again. Fellow UEFA competitors Denmark and Poland will also be absent from this summer’s tournament.

One of the best teams in Africa, Nigeria, also failed to qualify. This year's World Cup will be held jointly in the U. S.

, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with the final being held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Here's a look at the most notable nations that won't have a seat at the upcoming tournament. MORE: Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?