More than 1,100 players might be waiting to represent their countries at the World Cup 2026 on separate planes.
The competition will, after that, expand to include 48 nations at that point. As long as we stay at 32, some well-known individuals will exclude from the competition every four years.
The whole lineup is still unknown, so Bale and Robertson could be left out, but these are the top 10 celebs we know won’t be attending.
World Cup 2026
Gianluigi Donnarumma
He has struggled in his first season with Paris Saint-Germain, sharing the goal with Keylor Navas and was responsible for one of the goals in the last-16 loss to Real Madrid.
However, it’s simple to overlook that Gianluigi Donnarumma was the Best Player in Euro 2020. Italy last triumphed in a World Cup semifinal match against France in 2006. Back then, Big Gigi was only seven years old.
Franck Kessie
Franck Kessie has played a part in AC Milan’s resurgence. If you believe the rumors, the midfield dynamo may move to Barcelona, Arsenal, Tottenham, or Manchester United, but he won’t play in the World Cup.
Ivory Coast will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive year due to its complete failure to advance to the playoff round. However, hosting the Africa Cup of Nations the following year provides them with a solid chance at winning shortly.
However, it is disappointing that we won’t get to witness Kessie in action in Qatar. Let’s get Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure out of retirement for 2026 and put them back where they belong, will we?
Marco Verratti
We don’t want to belabor the matter with Italy, but it is pretty outrageous that they won’t be attending the celebration.
Verratti was the 23rd pick in Cesare Prandelli’s squad and was 21 during the most recent World Cup. The midfielder was one of three team members—the other two were Thiago Motta and Salvatore Sirigu, both of whom played for PSG—who did not play their football in Italy.
Verratti will be 33 by the following competition. It seems absurd that a player of his caliber will never compete in a World Cup during his peak.
David Alaba
At the club level, David Alaba has amassed every trophy imaginable. The Austrian utility player’s wait to attend a World Cup will continue after this week.
Alaba will be 33 by the time of the next tournament in North America, thanks to Wales’ midweek success, and while he’ll probably still be active with his country, he won’t be at the top of his game.
Unfortunately, the best Austrian player who has ever lived may never get to compete in a World Cup.
Read more: Know About The Best Token Rewards Players To Choose In NBA 2K23
