No Real Madrid in Spain’s ranks and other big-name snubs: The five most shocking World Cup 2026 selection calls | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup squads are locked in ahead of the tournament's opening fixture this week. Some of the game's top talent will be on show this summer, though there are some high-profile omissions.

While several big names are absent by injury or a failure to qualify, others are missing purely down to selection.

We've looked at five of the most surprising snubs from the 2026 World Cup squads, decisions that have left some baffled.

Eduardo Camavinga - France

Eduardo Camavinga has been a regular in the France squad since his debut as a teenager, but a difficult campaign at club level has cost him a place at the World Cup.

TheReal Madrid midfielder has missed out on a place in Didier Deschamps' group, having started only 16 games in La Liga last season. He's played only five times for France over the last 18 months and will hope for improve fortunes once Deschamps moves on after the World Cup.

Cole Palmer - England

Thomas Tuchel's squad selection was filled with surprises, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Adam Wharton, Harry Maguire, and Morgan Gibbs-White all notable omissions.

Perhaps the most surprising non-selection wasCole Palmer, who despite a disappointing season with Chelsea, contains an x-factor few in the Three Lions' camp possess. Palmer is nerveless on the big stage, a temperament that England might miss.

Joao Pedro - Brazil

Brazil are hardly blessed with centre-forward options right now, a scenario that makes Joao Pedro's absence all the more puzzling.

Pedro scored 23 goals for Chelsea to earn the club's Men's Player of the Season award for 2025/26.

Despite that strong debut season, Carlo Ancelotti has overlooked the 24-year-old. Brentford forward Igor Thiago and Real Madrid teenager Endrick will compete for the number nine role.

Dean Huijsen - Spain

For the first time in history,Spain head to a World Cup without a Real Madrid player in their ranks. Dean Huijsen was snubbed by Luis de la Fuente for the final squad, with La Roja opting for a light looking centre-back group.

Pau Cubarsi is joined by Barcelona teammate Eric Garcia, Atletico's Marc Pubill, and veteran Aymeric Laporte in the Spain squad.

Youssef En-Nesyri - Morocco

Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022. Youssef En-Nesryi was central to that success, scoring the decisive goal in the quarter-final win against Portugal.

The 29-year-old has scored 25 goals in 92 caps for The Atlas Lions, and netted 16 times at club level in 2025/26, for Fenerbahce andAl-Ittihad. Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has instead opted to keep faith with Soufiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi as centre-forward options.