From Cole Palmer to Manchester United transfer target: The biggest names snubbed for World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

Managers all over the world have made some bold calls ahead of this summer’s showpiece event in North America

With just a week to go before the tournament kicks off, World Cup fever is on the rise.

The squads of the 48 competing nations are all arriving in the United States, Canada and Mexico one by one ahead of the largest World Cup ever held.

However, there are plenty of world-famous footballers who won’t be playing at the World Cup.

Not because their countries have not qualified, and not because of injury - because their managers chose not to select them and surprised the football world in doing so.

Here, Standard Sport runs through some of the most shocking omissions from the 48 squad announcements...

Harry Maguire

When Tuchel said in March that he saw Maguire as England’s sixth-best centre-back, he clearly wasn’t joking. Despite impressive performances on his England return that month and for Manchester United since, he was left out. Family members raged online afterwards, calling it “disgraceful” he wasn’t in.

Marcos Senesi

The centre-back will leave Bournemouth this summer after a superb season full of tackles and interceptions and composed passing for the Cherries, yet Argentina left him out in a call that shocked many.

Angel Di Maria

The 38-year-old playmaker is now back in Argentina representing Rosario Central. But having represented his nation at the World Cups of 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, there will be no fifth tournament for the veteran, who was left out.

No fifth World Cup for Angel Di Maria

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Adam Wharton

The Crystal Palace youngster is a cultured passer and loved by plenty of England fans but was left out in favour of Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson and others. Man of the match in the Conference League final, where he impressed Germany legend Lothar Matthaus, working as a commentator, among others.

Dani Carvajal

The 34-year-old right-back is an experienced tournament general but picked up an untimely injury last month. It did not rule him out of the World Cup, but Spain boss Luis de la Fuente still made the call to leave him behind.

Franco Mastantuono

From one Real Madrid player to another. The Argentine winger has impressed both in South America and since moving to Europe but will not represent La Albiceleste at this World Cup. Aged 18, there will be others.

Joao Palhinha

Merely a victim of the incredible depth Portugal now have in midfield. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Nunes, Bernando Silva, Joao Neves, Vitinha and Ruben Neves were selected instead. Fair play. That said, Palhinha’s strong end to the season at Tottenham and high tackle win rate make him a bold omission from Roberto Martinez.

Eduardo Camavinga

The midfielder was probably the unluckiest of all the French talents to miss out on Didier Deschamps’s typically star-studded final 26-man squad. Has only played five times for France since the start of 2025.

Joao Pedro

Quite possibly the most stunning omission of any player. Told The Standard in September that he dreamed of becoming Brazil’s No9 at the World Cup and looked on track to do so all season. Then left out as Neymar was recalled. “Of course, we are sad for Joao Pedro,” Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti. “For the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list.” Then pick him!

Emi Buendia

Buendia enjoyed a fine end to a memorable season with Aston Villa, capping it off with a sensational goal in the Europa League final as Unai Emery’s side made Freiburg look very average indeed. Was always facing a competitive battle to make it into Argentina’s midfield and ultimately missed out.

Mateus Fernandes

It raise an eyebrow when Samu Costa — who has also just suffered relegation with Mallorca — was selected for Portugal ahead of West Ham’s Fernandes, who, yes, was also relegated, but appears a better player. Manchester United are keen on signing him and perhaps that says enough. A strange omission.

Left out: Mateus Fernandes

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Cole Palmer

Along with Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters MBE and Luke Shaw, one of only four players who have scored in the final of a major tournament for England. That said, his form with Chelsea was inconsistent enough that Tuchel chose to leave out one of the country’s most talented footballers.

Morgan Gibbs-White

An England No10 left out rather more cruelly. Gibbs-White was shortlisted for Premier League player of the year and dragged Nottingham Forest to survival with scintillating goals and immense leadership. Perhaps the unluckiest of all England players to miss out.

Dean Huijsen

It surprised many fans of Spain that Dean Huijsen was not selected. The centre-back’s omission played its part in a historic moment as a Spain World Cup squad featured no Real Madrid players for the very first time.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Was never an automatic pick at right-back under Sir Gareth Southgate and has proven even more starkly the case under Tuchel. The Real Madrid star was left behind as Reece James and Tino Livramento travelled ahead of him.

Thiago Silva

The 41-year-old has not played for Brazil since they were eliminated by Croatia at the 2022 World Cup but was named as part of Ancelotti’s 55-man provisional squad for the World Cup. Then the Porto man was left behind as his dreams of featuring in one last tournament were dashed.

Thiago Silva just missed the cut with Brazil

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Karim Adeyemi

The Borussia Dortmund forward has established himself as one of the finest attackers in the Bundesliga over the past few seasons but was left out of the Germany squad in favour of his Dortmund teammate Maximilian Beier.

Phil Foden

A regular for England at their past three tournaments but fell victim to a poor second half of the season at Manchester City and also Tuchel’s awareness of how England struggled for balance at Euro 2024 under Southgate when Foden played out on the left. A huge talent but left behind.

Jeremie Frimpong

Joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5million last summer as a flying wing-back but has struggled on Merseyside and paid dearly for that when Ronald Koeman picked three of his Liverpool teammates but not Frimpong himself for the Netherlands.