Best teams to miss out on FIFA World Cup qualification after Italy's 2026 shock - from Eric Cantona's France to Alberto Di Stefano's Spain
Published 01/04/2026 at 14:31 GMT+1
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Four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, meaning they are the only former winners not to secure their spot at the tournament. The Azzurri were defeated in a play-off by Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. As the inquest in Italy begins, we look back at other sides that failed to make the World Cup despite a star studded line-up or pedigree in the competition.
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Four-time champions Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after falling to a play-off final shoot-out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on Tuesday.
Italy are the only past winners to not qualify for this year’s edition and become the first former champions to miss out on three straight World Cups.
Indeed, their last World Cup knockout victory was their 2006 final win over France, with none of the team’s current players having ever participated at the tournament.
As an inquest begins into Gennaro Gattuso’s coaching credentials, Alessandro Bastoni’s red card, Moise Kean’s miss to make it 2-0 and the Italian Football Federation's general decision-making, here is a look at other moments when major football nations failed to make the World Cup.
France (1994)
France did not qualify for the World Cup in 1990, while they were eliminated at the group stage of Euro 92, so their failure to make USA ‘94 may not have come as a major surprise.
But their absence does raise eyebrows when you look at the players at their disposal - Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc, Franck Sauzee, Jean-Pierre Papin and Eric Cantona all started their ill-fated final qualification group game against Bulgaria.
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Netherlands (1986, 2018)
The Netherlands went through a period of change after the 1978 World Cup, failing to qualify for the 1982 tournament, as well as Euro ‘84.
However, by the time the qualifiers for 1986 came about, their side featured the likes of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten and Wim Kieft.
But a calamitous six-game qualification process was overseen by three different managers, with their fate being sealed when they lost to Belgium in a two-legged tie on away goals.
The Netherlands then missed out again in 2018, despite being runners-up in 2010 and third at the 2014 tournament.
Argentina (1970)
Current holders Argentina have only failed to qualify for the World Cup once in 1970, after years of tumult off the pitch.
The South American outfit had four different coaches between 1967 and 1969, while the head of their FA resigned two weeks before qualifying.
Nevertheless, their absence at Mexico 1970 still came as a surprise, after finishing second in the 1967 Copa America and boasting Rafael Albrecht, Antonio Rattin and Miguel Angel Brindisi in their ranks.
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England (1994)
England failed to qualify for the World Cup in both 1974 and 1978 but their absence in 1994 was particularly stunning given it was documented in the film ‘An Impossible Job’.
An underwhelming campaign still saw Graham Taylor’s side lead their group by a point when they took on the Netherlands in October 1993. However, a 2-0 loss in Rotterdam ultimately saw the Dutch pip England to the World Cup.
England’s side featured stars such as David Seaman, Stuart Pearce, Paul Ince, Paul Gascoigne and David Platt, while the likes of Ian Wright and John Barnes also played in qualifying.
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England's World Cup absence in 1994 was particularly stunning, given it was documented in the film ‘An Impossible Job’.
Image credit: Getty Images
Spain (1954)
Spain failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1958 despite their side featuring the core of Real Madrid’s team that won the first five European cups.
They could call upon Los Blancos icons Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento, Jose Maria Zarraga and Enrique Mateos as well as Barcelona greats Luis Suarez and Ladislao Kubala.
Nevertheless, qualification was an unforgiving affair back then, involving three teams to a group and only four games played, meaning it was very hard to recover from a bad start. Spain’s fate was sealed after drawing their opener to Switzerland and losing their second game 4-2 to Scotland.
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