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5 biggest names to miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup

By Uttiyo Sarkar

Carlos Queiroz (L) embraces Mohamed Salah (R) after winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup African Qualifiers match between Egypt and Senegal. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Carlos Queiroz (L) embraces Mohamed Salah (R) after winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup African Qualifiers match between Egypt and Senegal. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage draw took place at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar on April 01, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Dabbous/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage draw took place at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar on April 01, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Dabbous/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

The FIFA World Cup 2022 draw has been set. Some exciting games are in store for football fans in November. The United States of America have drawn in the same group as England. Spain and Germany have been put together – while Argentina faces a challenging test against Poland and Mexico.

While some of the world’s best players will be on display in Qatar later this year, some prominent world-class players have failed to make the cut. Indeed, as their nations have failed to qualify for the World Cup, quite a few popular and recognized players have to sit this one out. Let’s take a look at the biggest names to miss the tournament.

No Mo Salah (Egypt) in FIFA World Cup

Mohamed Salah reacts after the 2022 Qatar World Cup African Qualifiers match between Egypt and Senegal on March 25, 2022. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah reacts after the 2022 Qatar World Cup African Qualifiers match between Egypt and Senegal on March 25, 2022. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images) /

Despite his sensational form at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has experienced a lot of heartbreak at the international stage in 2022. It started with the loss to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalties and the misery didn’t end there. Salah saw his Egpyt side suffer another loss to Senegal, this time in a decisive World Cup qualifier.

The Liverpool winger missed his penalty in a penalty shootout as Egypt suffered a damning loss. Salah has been one of the very best players in the world this season with 28 goals and 10 assists in 35 appearances. He’s also the leading goal-scorer in the Premier League. Yet, because of some cruel fate, the 29-year-old will miss the opportunity to play in the World Cup.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Erling Braut Haaland warms up prior to the match between Norway and Armenia at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
Erling Braut Haaland warms up prior to the match between Norway and Armenia at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) /

Erling Haaland is the next big thing in football. The Borussia Dortmund forward has been tipped to succeed the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become the best player in the world. He is a genuine goal machine, having scored 80 times in 82 appearances for his club.

But despite his heroics for Dortmund, Haaland was not able to inspire the Norway national team in their World Cup qualification journey. Norway lost out in their World Cup qualification group, coming up short to the Netherlands and Turkey. Even after scoring five goals in their qualifying campaign, Haaland couldn’t get Norway into the Qatar World Cup and will now have to sit this one out.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Gianluigi Donnarumma in action during an Italy training session on March 23, 2022 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Gianluigi Donnarumma in action during an Italy training session on March 23, 2022 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) /

Perhaps the biggest shock from the recent international break was to see Italy get knocked out of the FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs. They lost to North Macedonia in a disastrous fashion, conceding a goal in the dying minutes.

Italy won’t be playing for their second successive World Cup edition, meaning Gianluigi Donnarumma’s wait to make his World Cup debut continues.

The PSG goalkeeper has had a very topsy-turvy last 12 months, helping Italy win the Euro 2020, winning the Player of the Tournament award and then witnessing them fail to attain World Cup qualification – meaning one of the best goalkeepers in world football will not feature in the tournament.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Poland and Sweden at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. (Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Poland and Sweden at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. (Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proven himself as a marvel in European football over the last few decades. Even at the age of 40, he’s still going strong and playing regularly for AC Milan. Zlatan had also hoped for one last dance in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He guided Sweden all the way into the World Cup qualifier playoffs final. But, Sweden lost out to Poland, missing out on World Cup qualification. Zlatan’s dream of playing in one final FIFA World Cup was extinguished with that loss to Poland, meaning he’ll end his career having played in just two FIFA World Cups.

James Rodriguez (Colombia)

James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring against Venezuela during their South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar on March 29, 2022. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring against Venezuela during their South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar on March 29, 2022. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images) /

James Rodriguez’s claim to fame was the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He produced some exceptional stuff for Colombia, winning the Golden Boot after scoring six goals in five games (including a memorable one against Uruguay). After that, he received a big-money move to Real Madrid and even spent a short period with Bayern Munich.

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But Rodriguez’s hopes of replicating some magic in the Qatar World Cup have now been diminished. Colombia had a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign and failed to make the top four among the 10 South American teams vying for qualification. This means the 30-year-old Rodriguez will see his final attempt at lighting up the World Cup go up in smoke and he’ll have to watch the competition at home.

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