Lewandowski, Rodrygo & the Big Stars Missing from the 2026 World Cup

Every World Cup leaves heartbreak in its wake — players who were expected to feature but find themselves watching at home. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is no different, with several high-profile omissions already confirmed ahead of the June 1 squad deadline.

Robert Lewandowski

One of the most shocking omissions at the 2026 World Cup is Robert Lewandowski. The Barcelona striker — Poland's all-time leading scorer and one of the greatest centre-forwards of his generation — has been left out of Poland's final squad, a decision that has divided opinion in the football world. At 37, it appears the curtain has fallen on his international career without a World Cup winner's medal to show for it.

Rodrygo

Brazil's omission of Real Madrid's Rodrygo from their final 26-man squad raised eyebrows across the sport. The forward had been widely expected to feature alongside Vinicius Jr. and Neymar, but coach Dorival Júnior made the call to leave him out — a decision that has fuelled debate about Brazil's attacking options, especially with Neymar now injured.

Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna

On the USMNT side, Yahoo Sports noted that both Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna were notable absences from Pochettino's final 26-man roster — players who had featured prominently in the USA's qualifying campaign but were ultimately cut when the pressure of final selection arrived.

The Heartbreak of World Cup Selection

With only 26 places in each squad and 48 nations competing, the 2026 World Cup will see hundreds of professional footballers miss out. For some, like Lewandowski, it will almost certainly be the final opportunity that was taken away. For younger players like Rodrygo, there is still time — but that is cold comfort when the biggest tournament in football is happening without you.