Shattered dreams: best XI from countries not at the World Cup

The 27-year-old Italy captain is widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. After moving to Manchester City, he has quickly adapted to the Premier League demands for ball-playing, a skill he honed at Paris Saint-Germain. Despite his Euro 2020 penalty-saving heroics, Donnarumma failed to stop a single one against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Azzurri’s crunch World Cup playoff.

The 23-year-old rose to prominence after an impressive Copa América 2024 showing, where he played as a left-back and right-back; a dream for any manager. His aggressive defensive style and tireless work ethic have established him as a crucial asset for Real Sociedad but despite his talents, Venezuela missed out on the World Cup inter-confederation playoffs by two points.

The Bayer Leverkusen centre-back has established himself as one of Europe’s best ball-playing defenders, key to his club’s domestic success under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24. The 27-year-old is known for his composure and exceptional passing range, but despite his stellar form, Burkina Faso failed to qualify for their first World Cup.

After a standout year at Bologna, Calafiori moved to Arsenal in 2024, introducing himself shortly after with a stunning strike against Manchester City. The versatile defender was pivotal to Arsenal’s title win this season, making him only the third Italian to receive a Premier League medal. Calafiori will spend the summer recovering after Italy’s failure to qualify, a disappointment he has at least made up for with silverware for his club.

Known for his marauding runs and crossing ability, the 22-year-old Liverpool defender represents the archetype of a modern attacking full-back. Kerkez has been a consistent performer in the English top flight since his time at Bournemouth but Hungary failed to qualify, finishing third in a group won by Portugal.

Emerging as a powerhouse in the heart of Brighton’s midfield, Baleba has drawn comparisons to elite defensive specialists, with his ability to break up play and transition quickly making him indispensable for his club side and Cameroon. Despite his physical dominance and technical growth over the past season, one of Africa’s most exciting young midfielders will not be at the finals.

The playmaker has been the creative heartbeat for Ipswich and his national team. Known for his vision and set-piece expertise, Núñez provides the technical flair often missing in central areas for Chile and Ipswich, where he has thrived under Kieran McKenna. While Chile’s golden generation fades, Núñez stands out as a bridge to the future for La Roja.

Szoboszlai was a rare bright spot in Liverpool’s meek Premier League title defence, with the midfielder renowned for his set-piece abilities, notably goals against Arsenal and Manchester City this season. As the captain and creative engine of Hungary, the absence of his ability to change games with individual brilliance from range is a blow to the tournament. A World Cup spot would have rewarded his five goal contributions in six games, but Hungary missed out, extending their 40-year absence from the finals.

After his hat-trick in the Europa League final for Atalanta in 2024, seemingly every club was interested in Lookman’s explosive pace and clinical finishing. He stood out at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with three goals and four assists but the Super Eagles failed to qualify for successive World Cups for the first time since 1990.

Widely regarded as one of the most clinical strikers, Osimhen is a nightmare for even the best defenders. Now leading the line at Galatasaray after several collapsed transfers, Osimhen remains a prolific goalscorer, having got eight in qualifying. Would it be any different had he not missed five qualifying matches with injury – all of which Nigeria dropped points in?

The 25-year-old arrived at Paris Saint-Germain with a reputation for selflessness and a workmanlike attitude. Capable of turning any match with a single action, he has consistently stood tall on European nights and is now a two-time Champions League winner. Despite Kvaratskhelia scoring twice in qualifying, Georgia finished a distant third in their group.

Subs/honourable mentions: Jan Oblak (Slovenia), Illia Zabarnyi (Ukraine), Matty Cash (Poland), Konstantinos Karetsas (Greece), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), Robert Lewandowski (Poland).