A host of stars will be absent from the 2026 World Cup.

Rodrygo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are notable stars who will miss the opportunity to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

Rodrygo has undergone surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee, and is expected to be out of action for about a year. This is a major blow to the player himself and to the Brazilian national team, as he is considered one of the most promising forwards for the "Selecao".

Despite his impressive performances in the Premier League, Bryan Mbeumo was unable to help Cameroon qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Besides Mbeumo, players like Andre Onana and Carlos Baleba also missed out on the biggest football event on the planet.

Victor Osimhen and Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and will miss it. Prior to that, the striker also missed the 2022 World Cup for the same reason.

Benjamin Sesko , Manchester United's big summer signing, was also unable to participate in the World Cup. Slovenia finished third in Group B of the European qualifying round, failing to qualify for the play-offs.

Similarly, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georgia were eliminated in the qualifying round, finishing third in Group E. Despite this, Kvaratskhelia is still enjoying impressive club form with PSG.

Dominik Szoboszlai , the star of Liverpool and the Hungarian national team, will also be absent from the 2026 World Cup. Hungary lost direct qualification to Portugal, while the play-off spot went to Ireland.

Dusan Vlahovic and Serbia earned 14 points in the European qualifying round, but still missed out on a play-off spot, finishing just one point behind Albania.

Italy on the eve of the tournament - from champions to those seeking to rediscover themselves. Italy enters a difficult period, burdened by prolonged instability and skepticism, as they struggle to rediscover the identity of a true champion.

Source: https://znews.vn/dan-sao-vang-mat-o-world-cup-2026-post1637612.html