{"id":27375,"date":"2025-11-20T10:02:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T10:02:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:02:37","slug":"best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Best eleven of players who will not participate in the 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/#goalkeeper_and_defense\" >goalkeeper and defense<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/#England_2026_World_Cup_Team_Tracker\" >England 2026 World Cup Team Tracker<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/#midfield\" >midfield<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/#attack\" >attack<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/best-eleven-of-players-who-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-world-cup\/#AI_predicts_2026_World_Cup_groupings\" >AI predicts 2026 World Cup groupings<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The November international break was filled with moments of jubilation: overhead kicks, last-gasp winners and the usual thumping. However, in between the joys came the heartbreaking realization that they had missed out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>For many players, this was their last chance to reach football&#8217;s biggest stage, only to see it snatched away from them once again. After Troy Parrott&#8217;s heroics, Scotland are still in party mode and Ireland may be preparing for the play-offs, but one wonders what would have been for the likes of Hungary and Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>As the tournament approaches, some of the world&#8217;s most impressive stars are faced with the heart-breaking task of having their fates decided and watching from home as their club teammates do things they can only dream of next summer.<\/p>\n<p>From Viktor Osimhen to Dominik Szoboszlai, we&#8217;ve put together the best XI of players who could miss out on the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"goalkeeper-and-defence\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"goalkeeper_and_defense\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>goalkeeper and defense<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>GK: Jan Black (Slovenia &#038; Atl\u00e9tico Madrid) &#8211; <\/strong>As part of Slovenia&#8217;s disastrous qualification run, Jan Oblak could only watch on as his side picked up just four points from six group games against Switzerland, Kosovo and Sweden.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of qualifying, the rankings were close, with Kosovo in second place with 11 points and Slovenia in third place.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RB: Ola Aina (Nigeria &#038; Nottingham Forest) &#8211; <\/strong>If Oblak&#8217;s situation was frustrating, Ola Aina&#8217;s situation reached a whole new level during the international break. The right-back has been plagued by injuries recently and could only watch as Nigeria were eliminated in a disastrous penalty shootout.<\/p>\n<p>Super Eagles manager Eric Schell limited his penalty options by having attacking players sent off and enduring a shootout before suffering the consequences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CB: Vili Orb\u00e1n (Hungary &#038; RB Leipzig) &#8211; <\/strong>As Parrott drove away to celebrate against Ireland, Willi Orb\u00e1n was among the Hungarian players heartbroken by the late defeat.<\/p>\n<p>They had the fortune of a World Cup, but it was taken away from them in the harshest way possible. The RB Leipzig man is now 33 years old and may never get the chance to play in the tournament.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"england-2026-world-cup-squad-power-rankings\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ffc-other-eng.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ffc-other-eng.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"England_2026_World_Cup_Team_Tracker\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tEngland 2026 World Cup Team Tracker<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Who will be in Thomas Tuchel&#8217;s 26-man squad?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>CB: Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia &#038; Nottingham Forest) &#8211;<\/strong> The fact that Serbia also has a talented defender like Nikola Milenkovic at their disposal further confuses Serbia&#8217;s struggles, but that sums up his season. The Nottingham Forest star struggled to repeat last season&#8217;s form at club level, which he has now used to break out with his country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LB: Milos Kerkez (Hungary &#038; Liverpool) &#8211;<\/strong> It&#8217;s been a difficult season for Milos Kerkes. The left-back has failed to impress at Liverpool and was recently dethroned by Andy Robertson. Now, his World Cup dreams have been shattered and they are slowly but surely turning into a nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"midfield\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"midfield\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>midfield<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>CM: Carlos Baleva (Cameron &#038; Brighton) &#8211; <\/strong>Carlos Baleva is undoubtedly destined for big things, but the world stage will have to wait for him after Cameroon were eliminated in the qualifying round against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 21-year-old Brighton &#038; Hove Albion midfielder still has opportunities in his future, which could coincide with an impressive move at club level.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary &#038; Liverpool) &#8211; <\/strong>Szoboszlai was left speechless by Parrott&#8217;s late winner. The Hungarian captain would have set his sights on the World Cup when his team took the lead before half-time.<\/p>\n<p>But just 45 minutes later, he saw his dreams brutally torn apart. Szoboszlai, who has been a rare standout player for Liverpool this season and often led Hungary to victory, has certainly struggled.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RM: Brian Mbeumo (Cameroon &#038; Manchester United) &#8211; <\/strong>Like Belaba, his international teammate and potential club teammate in the future, Brian Mbeumo will also miss the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>When he was at the peak of his powers and everything was starting to come together at Old Trafford, there would have been plenty of hope across Cameroon that the winger could qualify. But in the end, they had trouble marking the Democratic Republic of the Congo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LM: Khvitya Kvaratskhelia (Georgia &#038; PSG) &#8211; <\/strong>As talented as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is, Georgia were always likely to lose in World Cup qualifying. They finished in 3rd place in Group E, with Spain and Turkey occupying the top two spots, and with just one win out of six games, they were forced to settle for third place, ahead of Bulgaria.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"attack\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"attack\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>attack<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>ST: Victor Osimhen (Nigalia &#038; Galasalize) &#8211; <\/strong>In recent years, the biggest stage has continued to overtake Osimhen. Since falling out with Napoli, he has played most of his club football for Galatasaray, despite persistent rumors about his links with Europe&#8217;s biggest clubs and leagues. Now, he will miss out on the World Cup, and after being substituted, he didn&#8217;t even get a penalty as Nigeria were eliminated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ST: Selhou Guirassi (Guinea &#038; Borussia Dortmund) &#8211; <\/strong>Selhou Guirassi is one of the most impressive strikers in European football. He has been a consistent star player in the Bundesliga in recent years, but he won&#8217;t get the chance to do the same for Guinea next summer. His team finished 4th in Group G despite losing only 3 out of 10 games.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2026-world-cup-groups-predicted-by-ai\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AI_predicts_2026_World_Cup_groupings\"><\/span>\n            <strong>AI predicts 2026 World Cup groupings<\/strong><br \/>\n    <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The November international break was filled with moments of jubilation: overhead kicks, last-gasp winners and the usual thumping. However, in between the joys came the heartbreaking realization that they had missed out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. For many players, this was their last chance to reach football&#8217;s biggest stage, only to see [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[913,6906,40,747,881,42],"class_list":{"0":"post-27375","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-cup","9":"tag-eleven","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-participate","12":"tag-players","13":"tag-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27375\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}