World Cup: Who are the Biggest Names Left Out by Each of the Three Favorites?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is quickly approaching, and managers are naming their preliminary squads ahead of the tournament getting underway on June 11th. Each of the increased number of 48 teams heading to North America this summer had to name an initial squad of up to 55 players one month out from the tournament getting underway. By June 2nd, those squads will have to be whittled down to just 26, who will then head to the World Cup in a bid to lead their countries to glory. 

Ten teams have already confirmed their final 26-man squad, bypassing the preliminary process entirely. Both Belgium and Japan are included in that number, and both of them have made shock omissions, with the Red Devils leaving out the likes of Lois Openda and Romeo Lavia, while the Blue Samurai have also left out Brighton talisman Kaoru Mitoma. But what of the tournament frontrunners? 

Online betting sites have had their favorites to win the World Cup priced up for months, and little has changed in recent weeks. The latest Bovada World Cup odds position Spain as the 9/2 outright favorites, with France (5/1) and England (6/1) both hot on their heels. Of those four teams, only Les Bleus have confirmed their final squad, with each of the other three opting for the preliminary route. But who are the biggest names left out by each of them? Let's take a look. 

Spain - Dani Carvajal 

Two years ago, experienced right back Dani Carvajal had the season of a lifetime. He captained Real Madrid to a famous La Liga and Champions League double, before then going on to play all but two of Spain's games in their successful Euro 2024 campaign. Now, however, after an injury-hit season at the Bernabeu at the age of 34, the veteran full-back is out of the international reckoning. 

Esteemed Spanish publication Marca and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano have both reported that Carvajal has been left out of Luis de la Fuente's provisional 55-man squad for this summer's tournament. Much of that is because he has featured for just over 900 minutes for Los Blancos this season, with injuries taking their toll and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold taking over as the starting right back throughout the second half of the season. 

Carvajal has been an integral part of the Real Madrid squad for some 13 years now. Throughout his stint with the Spanish giants, he has won the Champions League a mighty six times, as well as claiming four La Liga titles. He was crucial to Spain's most recent Euro triumph and their 2023 Nations League victory, but now could well spell the end of an era. 

France - Eduardo Camavinga 

Another Real Madrid name that won't be heading to North America this summer is French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. The former Rennes man was thought to be the future of France's midfield alongside club teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, but after a dismal campaign in the Spanish capital, Didier Deschamps has left the 23-year-old out of his 26-man World Cup squad. 

The news will have come as quite a shock to Camavinga, who was named in the squad for Qatar 2022 at the age of just 20. He was also included in Les Bleus' squad for Euro 2024. However, a slew of high-profile mistakes this season have caught the ire of the Real Madrid faithful, who have regularly been jeering their central midfielder in home games this season. Clearly, Deschamps has noticed this downturn in form as well and has opted to leave him out, with Roma's Manu Kone and young Paris Saint-Germain man Warren Zaïre-Emery called up instead. 

England - Ivan Toney 

Thomas Tuchel is one of the few managers to have not yet revealed even a preliminary squad, with May 27th the date set for the squad release. Some tricklings have come through in the media, however, with names such as Trent-Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, and in-form 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck all receiving somewhat surprise inclusions. One player who isn't likely to be on that list of players, however, is striker Ivan Toney. 

Despite playing a crucial role when coming off the bench in England's run to the Euro 2024 final, the former Brentford man has been selected just once throughout Tuchel's two years in charge, playing just two minutes of action under the German boss. Much of that is clearly down to the fact that he plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League with reigning back-to-back Asian Champions League winners Al Ahli. 

However, his potential omission is even more startling when you consider just how little depth England has in the striking department behind captain Harry Kane. None of Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, or Dominic Calvert-Lewin are in any kind of form, while Toney has smashed in a mighty 41 goals in 47 games this season, albeit admittedly against lesser opposition. Still, that scoring record speaks for itself, and if England need a late goal off the bench this summer, chances are supporters would much rather have an in-form Toney coming off the bench, rather than an aging Danny Welbeck.