Securing a spot on a FIFA World Cup roster is the ultimate goal for professional soccer players. However, for several athletes involved in the 2026 tournament, that experience concluded without them setting foot on the field.
While 48 nations assembled complete squads for the competition held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, various star players remained on the sidelines for the duration of the event. Reasons for their lack of playing time varied, ranging from injury and tactical choices to intense competition for positions.
Among the notable unused players was a French veteran midfielder, whom Didier Deschamps opted not to play throughout the campaign. England’s Kobbie Mainoo faced a difficult tournament, as illness kept him from the third-place match, making him the only England outfield player to miss out entirely. Spain’s Victor Munoz was sidelined by a pre-tournament injury, while his teammate and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya stayed on the bench behind the consistent Unai Simon. England goalkeeper James Trafford also saw no action, as manager Thomas Tuchel utilized Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson instead.
Brazil’s Bremer remained behind starters Gabriel and Marquinhos in the defensive depth chart. Meanwhile, Uruguay’s Ronald Araujo failed to recover from an injury before his team was eliminated in the group stage. Alejandro Grimaldo watched from the sidelines as Spain clinched the title, unable to replace Marc Cucurella. Portugal’s Goncalo Inacio remained unused due to Roberto Martinez’s reliance on Ruben Dias and Renato Veiga, and Dutch midfielder Mats Wieffer did not gain a single minute in the Netherlands’ fixed lineup. Although these individuals were part of their respective national squads, the 2026 World Cup remains a missed chance for them to have made an impact on the pitch.
