Notable stars who failed to see action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

For many footballers, securing a spot in the FIFA World Cup squad is the ultimate dream, but for some, this aspiration ended without even stepping onto the pitch during the 2026 tournament.

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Despite all 48 participating nations having full squads for the expanded tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, several high-profile players were relegated to watching from the sidelines due to tactical decisions, injuries, or intense competition for positions.

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A total of 10 notable players completed the 2026 FIFA World Cup without making a single appearance, including N’Golo Kante, who was part of France's squad but did not feature in any matches.

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Kante, a veteran midfielder, was left unused throughout the tournament by coach Didier Deschamps, including the third-place playoff against England, despite his experience and key role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph.

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Kobbie Mainoo had a frustrating campaign with England, failing to play a single minute, and his situation was further complicated by illness, which ruled him out of the third-place playoff.

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Mainoo was the only England outfield player not to feature during the tournament, making his experience particularly disappointing.

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Victor Munoz, Spain's new signing from Liverpool, was included in the country's World Cup-winning squad but never got the chance to play due to an injury sustained before the tournament.

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David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper, remained on the bench for Spain's entire World Cup campaign, despite having just won the Premier League Golden Glove, as Unai Simon's outstanding performances meant Raya never got the opportunity to feature.

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James Trafford, the Manchester City goalkeeper, was an unused substitute throughout the tournament, as England manager Thomas Tuchel opted to rotate between Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson instead.

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Bremer, the Brazil defender, finished the tournament without any minutes, as he struggled to break into the team due to the established central defensive pairing of Gabriel and Marquinhos.

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Ronald Araujo's hopes of featuring for Uruguay were derailed by an injury before the tournament began, and he never recovered in time to play before his country's disappointing group-stage exit.

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Alejandro Grimaldo arrived at the World Cup following an impressive club season but was unable to displace Marc Cucurella at left-back, watching every game from the sidelines as Spain marched to the title.

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Goncalo Inacio never got an opportunity to impress for Portugal, as coach Roberto Martinez consistently preferred Ruben Dias and Renato Veiga, leaving the Sporting CP defender without a single appearance.

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Mats Wieffer, the Dutch midfielder, failed to get on the pitch, despite Jurriën Timber's injury appearing to open the door for him, as the Netherlands maintained a settled lineup throughout the competition.

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While these players will still receive a World Cup medal or official tournament recognition for being part of their national squads, the 2026 edition will likely be remembered as a missed opportunity, with none managing to make their mark on the field.