World Cup 2026: Best XI of players who will not be at the tournament, including Robert Lewandowski, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Sandro Tonali

There will be some major names absent from the 2026 World Cup, with Robert Lewandowski among them after his Poland side lost 3-2 to Sweden in a playoff final.

Italy are perhaps the biggest name to miss out from a country point of view, but the competition, which will begin on June 11, will also be without a number of superstar footballers.

With that in mind, Sports Mole has put together a best XI of players who will not feature at the 2026 World Cup.

The list only includes players who are unable to feature due to their country failing to qualify, rather than those who have been left out of squad that will head to the tournament.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will not feature at the summer tournament after his Italy side lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the playoff final.

Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in world football, but he will not have the chance to feature at the competition, meaning that it will be a summer off for the 27-year-old.

Right-back: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)

Dominik Szoboszlai is a midfielder by trade, but he featured at right-back numerous times in the 2025-26 season, so he is selected in that role for the purposes of his team.

The 25-year-old was a standout player for Liverpool, but his Hungary team were not been able to secure their spot at the summer tournament.

Centre-back: Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia)

Serbia failed to secure a spot in the World Cup playoffs, meaning that it was a very disappointing qualification campaign for the national side.

A number of headline players will therefore be absent, including Nikola Milenkovic, who has been consistently excellent snice signing for Nottingham Forest in 2024.

Centre-back: Alessandro Bastoni (Italy)

Alessandro Bastoni could earn himself a major move from Inter Milan to the likes of Barcelona this summer, but the centre-back's Italy side failed to qualify for the World Cup, so he will not feature.

Left-back: Milos Kerkez (Hungary)

Milos Kerkez slowly settled into his Liverpool shirt after a tough start, but it will be a summer off for the left-back after his Hungary team missed out on qualification.

Central midfield: Sandro Tonali (Italy)

Sandro Tonali managed to shine despite the failings of his Newcastle United side, and it is no surprise that Manchester United are said to be keen on the star, but the 26-year-old will not be involved in the 2026 World Cup.

Central midfield: Nico Barella (Italy)

Nico Barella may have established himself as one of Europe's most exciting midfielders, but he was unable to help Italy secure qualification for the World Cup.

The 29-year-old deserves to feature in football's biggest competition, but it is a tough period for the Italian national team.

Right wing: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)

Cameroon are a high-profile absentee from the summer tournament, losing to CR Congo in the CAF playoff semi-final; Bryan Mbeumo will be the biggest player from the nation to miss out, meaning that it is a summer off for the Manchester United attacker.

Centre-forward: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

Robert Lewandowski has been one of the best centre-forwards in world football for some time, and the competition will be worse off without him this summer.

Lewandowski's international career for Poland is set to come to an end in the most disappointing of fashions.

Centre-forward: Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia)

Benjamin Sesko started to hit some serious form for Manchester United in 2025-26, but he will not feature at the 2026 World Cup, with Slovenia disappointingly failing to qualify for the summer competition.

Left wing: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was one of the stars of Euro 2024, as Georgia gained plenty of admirers at the competition, but the national side have been unable to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, so there will be no appearance for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kvaratskhelia.

The winger was at least able to win his second Champions League with PSG in 2025-26, though he will be desperate for an appearance at the next World Cup.

SPORTS MOLE'S BEST XI THAT WILL NOT FEATURE AT WORLD CUP

Sports Mole's 2026 World Cup absent XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Szoboszlai, Milenkovic, Bastoni, Kerkez; Tonali, Barella; Mbeumo, Sesko, Lewandowski, Kvaratskhelia