World Cup 2026: The Excluded XI – Best players left out for summer tournament including Joao Pedro, Eduardo Camavinga and Cole Palmer
Published 02/06/2026 at 18:59 GMT+1
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a little more than one week away and, while the stage is set for several new breakout stars to emerge, several established names are coming to terms with missing out.
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Anticipation is ramping up for the showpiece event across the United States, Canada and Mexico, which begins on June 11.
It will be the biggest World Cup in history as 48 nations battle it out for the sport’s most iconic trophy and the 26-man squad lists taking part are being announced.
There are some high-profile omissions from those nations expected to go far in the tournament, but the inclusion of Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the provisional call-up of Lionel Messi, ensures that a star-studded cast is set to light up the 23rd edition of the prestigious competition.
Several individuals who may be considered among the front-runners for the Ballon d'Or will not be present this summer because of their countries not progressing through their respective qualifying campaigns.
Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia misses out after Georgia crashed out of a qualifying group containing Spain and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Italy's raft of stellar names - including Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and fellow Euro 2020 winner Nicolo Barella - will all be staying at home after a third straight failure to reach the World Cup following a play-off shoot-out loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Perhaps more painful than a collective failure to join the party heading across the Atlantic for those European nations, however, is getting the dreaded phone call to hear you have not been called up.
TNT Sports looks at those players across the globe who have fallen short of convincing their national team's head coach they are worthy of a place on the plane, creating an XI of the best to miss out.
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GK: Alex Remiro (Spain and Real Sociedad)
There are not necessarily any big name goalkeepers missing from this year's World Cup, given that managers can name three in their squads.
Spain's Remiro can count himself a little unfortunate, though, having consistently impressed with Real Sociedad in La Liga for several seasons.
The 31-year-old only has two caps to his name and is behind Arsenal's David Raya, Athletic Club's Unai Simon and Barcelona's Joan Garcia in the pecking order.
But if Spain are ever hit with a goalkeeping injury crisis, Remiro is a more than able deputy.
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Alex Remiro did not make the cut for Spain
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RB: Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands and Liverpool)
Expectations were high when Liverpool signed Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5 million last summer.
The rapid right-back had excelled in the Bundesliga, playing a key role in Xabi Alonso's unbeaten league-winning side in 2023/24.
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But he has struggled with both form and injuries in the Premier League, starting just 12 times in a difficult first season for Liverpool.
Frimpong did feature as a substitute in the Netherlands' March friendly against Ecuador, but he has not done enough to convince coach Ronald Koeman.
While Liverpool team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo will play for the Netherlands in North America, Frimpong will have to watch from afar.
CB: Dean Huijsen (Spain and Real Madrid)
Another recognisable name absent from his national team squad, Huijsen has not made the cut for Spain despite his big-money move to Real Madrid from Bournemouth.
The Cherries sold their star defender for £50m, and he has been capped seven times over the past year.
But the 21-year-old's form dropped off slightly after a promising start with Los Blancos, with Barcelona's Eric Garcia preferred by De la Fuente.
While Huijsen will certainly be disappointed, he has time on his side to work his way back into the fold and feature at future tournaments.
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Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth last year
Image credit: Getty Images
CB: Harry Maguire (England and Manchester United)
Maguire has been a stalwart for England at recent tournaments and there was some surprise when he was left out by Thomas Tuchel.
The Manchester United defender expressed his "shock and disappointment" on social media.
Maguire has 66 England caps to his name and would have been playing at his third World Cup and fifth major tournament.
But that will not be the case, with Tuchel preferring the likes of Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa.
Maguire is certainly one of the most experienced and assured players not to have made it to this summer's tournament.
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Harry Maguire of England during the international friendly match between England and Japan at Wembley Stadium on March 31, 2026 in London, England.
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LB: Alvaro Carreras (Spain and Real Madrid)
Carreras has not yet received a call-up from Spain and his wait will go on until at least the start of the UEFA Nations League campaign in the early autumn.
Despite forming well in individual duels against both Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah this season, against Barcelona and Liverpool respectively, the 22-year-old will join team-mate Carvajal in not heading to North America.
De La Fuente has also overlooked Barcelona's Alejandro Balde, opting to choose between Chelsea's Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo of Bayer Leverkusen at left-back.
Carreras can feel aggrieved at the stiff competition for places during the time of his breakthrough campaign for Madrid following his move from Benfica.
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Alvaro Carreras has been overlooked by Spain at the World Cup
Image credit: Getty Images
CM: Eduardo Camavinga (France and Real Madrid)
There were some notable absentees from Didier Deschamps' final squad as France head coach, with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and Tottenham's on-loan forward Randal Kolo Muani both omitted from the final list of 26.
It is Camavinga, however, who is perhaps the biggest name to miss out. The Real Madrid midfielder pays the price for an injury-interrupted campaign.
Deschamps cited Camavinga's difficult season at Madrid with limited minutes and a lower midfield hierarchy behind players like veteran anchorman N'Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouameni and Roma's Manu Kone.
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Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaire-Emery complete Deschamps' midfield options, meaning there is no space for Camavinga, who was consoled by the man tasked with making the difficult decision to end his World Cup 2026 hopes.
"He’s still young," Deschamps said at his squad announcement press conference. "I have choices to make, I need a structure for my list, but I can understand how sad can be Eduardo tonight."
CM: Mateus Fernandes (Portugal and West Ham)
Fernandes may be the subject of interest from some top Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window but he will not demonstrate his ability at the World Cup.
The 21-year-old has been left out of Roberto Martinez's Portugal squad, despite impressing in the Premier League.
He has so far earned just one cap for his country, replacing Bruno Fernandes as a substitute in a friendly against the USA in April.
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Fernandes is certainly a talent and a big-money move this summer will likely help establish him as a top-tier midfielder.
For now, though, he has work to do to further impress Martinez. Back-to-back relegations from the Premier League, with Southampton and West Ham, perhaps did not help his cause.
RW: Cole Palmer (England and Manchester City)
Palmer was the next big thing for England at Euro 2024, catching the eye in several brief cameos as Gareth Southgate's side came agonisingly close to glory.
The Chelsea star scored memorably in the final against Spain, capping off an exceptional individual season in which he scored 25 goals in all competitions for The Blues.
He impressed again in 2024/25, continuing to be selected for England during qualifying for the World Cup.
But his form dipped in a difficult 2025/26 season for Chelsea and his impact on both the club and international stage dwindled.
The 24-year-old has only made 14 appearances for England, which seems low given his inarguable talent.
There is still plenty of time for Palmer, of course, and many still argue that he should have been included in Tuchel's squad. But the England boss has clearly not seen enough to be convinced.
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CAM: Joao Pedro (Brazil and Chelsea)
Carlo Ancelotti recognised the decision was a harsh one. But when the Brazil head coach announced his squad, arguably the biggest surprise was not the return of Neymar after nearly three years away from international football but the omission of Joao Pedro.
After producing 32 goals and assists since joining Chelsea last summer, the forward appeared certain to be included. With Rodrygo unavailable and Estevao also ruled out, Neymar's recall felt inevitable. Joao Pedro's absence, however, came as a genuine shock.
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In-form Pedro wraps up victory with Chelsea fourth
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The 24-year-old had featured in three of Ancelotti's previous four squads and was named Chelsea’s player of the season. Yet he was left out alongside Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison, while places went to Igor Thiago, Bournemouth teenager Rayan and Endrick.
Ancelotti later acknowledged Pedro "probably deserved" selection, but argued that the balance and "characteristics" of the squad ultimately led Brazil in a different direction.
The disappointment is particularly painful given the path he has taken. After leaving Brazil for England as a teenager, he developed through the Championship with Watford before earning his Brazil debut shortly after joining Brighton in 2023.
Having also missed out on the 2024 Copa America, he may now have to wait until 2028 for his next realistic chance to play a major tournament for Brazil at the age of 28.
LW: Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Several England players could make this list: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer would likely be star players for other teams.
But Foden is arguably the most striking absentee from Tuchel's squad. The Manchester City midfielder has been a key figure for England since making his debut in 2020, even if his performances have not always matched expectations on the international stage.
Given his exceptional form for City in 2023/24, when he scored 27 goals in all competitions and was named PFA Player of the Year, few would have predicted he would not be involved in the World Cup two years on.
But a couple of difficult seasons for City and a limited impact in his appearances for England has cost him a place on the plane.
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Phil Foden played for England at Euro 2020, World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024
Image credit: Getty Images
ST: Karim Adeyemi (Germany and Borussia Dortmund)
Borussia Dortmund forward Adeyemi has established himself as one of the best attackers in the Bundesliga over the past few seasons but he has been left out of the Germany squad.
The 24-year-old, who starred in Dortmund's run to the Champions League final two years ago, has not quite hit his previous heights in 2025/26, struggling for form and fitness and only starting 23 games in all competitons.
Julian Nagelsmann has instead opted to select Adeyemi's Dortmund team-mate Maximilian Beier, who has impressed in the Bundesliga this season.
Adeyemi played seven times for Germany in 2025 but is yet to earn a cap in 2026. The timing has not worked in his favour on this occasion.
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The excluded XI for the FIFA World Cup.
Image credit: Getty Images
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