Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway, and with next summer’s showdown looming on the horizon, some huge names are in real danger of not securing qualification. Italy shockingly hasn’t featured on the grandest stage since 2014, and they find themselves with a real possibility of missing out once again as they trail Norway by six points in Group I. Following back-to-back group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, things could get even worse for Germany as they currently sit in third place in Group A.
One team that isn’t struggling, however, is reigning European Champions Spain. Led by teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, La Roja claimed a record-setting fourth Euro crown last summer as they beat England in Berlin courtesy of Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner. Now, they currently sit top of Group E with two wins from two, headlined by nine goals scored and zero conceded. As such, it is Luis de la Fuente’s men that online betting sites consider the team to beat in North America next summer.
The popular Bovada site currently lists Spain as a short-priced 4/1 favorite to leave MetLife Stadium with the FIFA World Cup trophy in tow next July. But while they never seem to struggle in qualifying for major tournaments, some heavyweights certainly do. Here are the biggest names to have missed out on the World Cup in each of the last few editions of the storied competition.
Italy Downed In Playoffs For Second Straight Year
Italy missed the FIFA World Cup in 2018, marking the first time in 60 years that they wouldn’t feature on football’s grandest stage. Three years on from that disappointment, the Azzurri looked to be back to their very best as they surprisingly won the European Championships by defeating England on penalties at Wembley.
As such, they were a huge favorite to secure a return to the World Cup in 2022, but a final-day draw with Northern Ireland saw Switzerland progress to the tournament at Italy’s expense, forcing them into the play-offs once again. And just like in qualifying for Russia 2018, it would be their downfall.
The Azzurri faced off with North Macedonia in what seemed to be a routine playoff semifinal, with the true test being an impending clash with Portugal should they defeat the Balkan minnows. Instead, the Italians were stunned. Aleksandar Trajkovski’s 92nd-minute rocket secured a shocking upset win for the visitors in Palermo, leaving Italy in the dust, inexplicably missing the tournament for the second straight time.
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France End Dutch Hopes
The Netherlands reached the final of the 2010 World Cup before going on to reach the semifinals in Brazil four years later. They harbored genuine hopes of mounting another deep tournament run in 2018, and qualification was considered the bare minimum. But even with a squad containing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Arjen Robben, and Georginio Wijnaldum, the Oranje were unable to finish better than third in their qualifying group.
They were drawn alongside eventual champions France, and Les Bleus picked up victories home and away, including a 4-0 thumping in Paris, to plunge the Dutch into trouble. Another challenger was Sweden, but the Netherlands seemingly navigated that threat with a victory on home turf and a draw on enemy territory. Despite seeing off that challenge, not all went according to plan.
A shock 2-0 defeat away in Bulgaria, coupled with Sweden’s upset victory of France in Stockholm, suddenly opened the door for the Scandinavians, and they wouldn’t look back. Their superior goal difference saw them qualify at the Oranje’s expense, sending the Dutch to one of the lowest points in their history as they missed out on qualification for the first time since 2002.
Poor Form Costs Denmark
While Denmark isn’t the biggest name European football has to offer, they are a regular staple at both the World Cup, reaching the Round of 16 in 2002, and the quarterfinals in 1998. In qualifying for Brazil 2014, they were underdogs in Group B behind Italy, but they were still expected to secure a playoff spot at the very least.
The group went as predicted. The Azzurri beat Denmark at home and drew with them in Copenhagen to secure top spot. De Rød-Hvide, meanwhile, faltered. They drew home and away against Bulgaria, while they were shockingly thumped 4-0 by lowly Armenia on home turf in arguably the worst result in the history of Danish football. Still, they managed to finish as runners-up to the Italians, but their measly form throughout qualifying meant that they missed the playoffs.
Eight of the nine runners-up would secure a playoff spot, with points accumulated against teams not ranked in Pot Six being used to determine the best and worst teams. Denmark, you guessed it, finished rock bottom of the nine-team mini table, with their six points accrued against Malta being wiped out and ultimately costing them a playoff spot.
An Italian flag – Source: Unsplash
