The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on 11th June, and some huge names haven’t been selected for their country
With the 2025/26 Premier League season done and dusted, thought is now turning to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s set to be a tournament unlike any we’ve never seen before, with a whopping 48 teams competing across the United States, Mexico and Canada in what should be a wild 39 days of international football spanning 104 matches.
The heat will be blistering, the travel schedule will be exhausting, and the pomp and ceremony involving various FIFA officials and other elected figures will be, let’s be honest: utterly nauseating. Don’t get us started on the ‘half-time show’ planned for the final - if that takes just fifteen minutes, it will be miracle.
Ahead of next month’s big opening clash between Mexico and South Africa, we’ve gone through some of the stars who failed to make the cut for their respective nations, and will have no choice but to watch the tournament from home. Or on a luxury holiday, as the case may be.
Top class players who didn’t get picked for World Cup - Palmer to Hujsen
Cole Palmer -England: The Chelsea superstar had a 2025/26 season to forget, looking completely off the boil and struggling with injury issues through the campaign. England had so many options for their number ten position, it was inevitable that a big name or two would miss out. Manager Thomas Tuchel opted for Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers instead.
Phil Foden - England: It’s almost exactly the same story for Foden who, like Palmer, looks to have seriously struggled following a laborious summer spent in playing in the Club World Cup. A far cry from the player who was named the Premier League Player of the Season heading into Euro 2024, Foden ghosted his way through much of the 2025/26 campaign.
Paulo Dybala - Argentina: Hotly-tipped to retain their title, Argentina couldn’t find space to include 2022 winner Dybala. Lionel Scaloni has made a clear push for youth in his energetic side, choosing the likes of Atlético Madrid’s Thiago Almada and Como’s Nico Paz in his position instead. Dybala, 32, has been linked with a summer move to Spurs once his contract at Roma expires this summer.
Mateus Fernandes - Portugal: Dark horses for the trophy, Euro 2016 champions Portugal are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to central midfield options. Fernandes was hugely impressive for West Ham this season despite their final-day Premier League relegation, but was never going to get in over the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Bernardo Silva.
Dean Huijsen - Spain: Not one Real Madrid player made Spain’s squad, after an explosive season that saw La Liga’s giants fail to win a single trophy. Netherlands-born Huijsen missed out, as the Euro 2024 champions went with Barcelona’s Eric Garcia and Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill to serve as backup for likely starters Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi.
Top class players who didn’t get picked for World Cup - Alexander-Arnold to Richarlison
Trent Alexander-Arnold - England: Having failed to win over Tuchel, Alexander-Arnold is another huge name missing from the Three Lions squad. His perceived lack of defensive nous saw him omitted from the 26-man list, with the likes of Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Spurs’ Djed Spence set to serve as understudies for starting right-back Reece James.
Eduardo Camavinga - France: Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid teammate also failed to make his World Cup squad, with France boss Didier Deschamps spoiled for choice when it comes to midfield options. Players such as AC Milan’s Adrien Rabiot, Fenerbahce veteran N’Golo Kante and fellow Los Blancos star Aurelien Tchouameni made the plane instead.
Joao Pedro - Brazil: A stunning Club World Cup campaign for Chelsea followed by a 20-goal season somehow wasn’t enough for the £55m forward to make Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad. Competition for places was fierce, but Brentford’s Igor Jesus and Bournemouth’s Rayan managed to slip in as versatile forward options for A Selecao.
Karim Adeyemi - Germany: The 2014 World Cup winners announced their squad earlier this month, but couldn’t find room for Adeyemi. The Borussia Dortmund gem had a poor second half of the Bundesliga season, and ultimately his club teammate Maximilian Beier got the nod ahead of him.
Richarlison - Brazil: Another surprising absence here, with the 54-cap forward also left at home. He’s had a poor season with Spurs, but has plenty of experience at major tournaments with Brazil, scoring three times in the last World Cup. In the end, Neymar got the nod ahead of him, ending an exile from the side lasting over two-and-a-half years.
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