Manchester United star Bryan Mbeumo has been recognised among the best players who won’t be at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Bryan Mbeumo isn’t the only talented footballer at Manchester United who will sit out the 2026 World Cup.
Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko and Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu both miss the chance to represent their countries at a World Cup for the first time, but they will be able to return to Carrington for the start of pre-season.
United fans will also be keeping a close eye on transfer targets throughout the tournament, or new signings, depending on whether Ineos can get deals done early in the market.
Bryan Mbeumo playing against Bournemouth
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Bryan Mbeumo named in BBC’s XI of best players not going to World Cup 2026
While 48 teams are looking forward to competing at the World Cup, there are some big names who already know they will not be there.
United have players at risk of missing out on a call-up for the tournament, such as Matthijs de Ligt, but it could be worse when you consider players like Sesko missed out because they simply failed to qualify.
However, BBC Sport have named their best line-up of players who won’t be at the World Cup after failing to secure qualification. It includes Mbeumo as the only United player.
BBC Sport’s best XI of players missing at the 2026 World Cup: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ola Aina, Alessandro Bastoni, Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Kerkez; Mbeumo, Sandro Tonali, Dominik Szoboszlai, Khvicha Kvartskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Victor Osimhen.
More United News
The line-up could be strengthened again in the summer, depending on who misses out on call-ups from the qualified nations.
Bryan Mbeumo’s World Cup stats
Mbeumo has featured in one World Cup throughout his career.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mbeumo featured in three group stage matches for Cameroon.
The African national, who missed out on qualification this time around, was eliminated before the knockout rounds.
Mbeumo registered one assist at the World Cup against Serbia.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox