Italy, Poland, Costa Rica miss out on 2026 World Cup

Italy, Poland, and Costa Rica will not participate in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Italy's elimination marks their third consecutive absence despite having won four titles, as they failed to qualify through the UEFA playoffs. Poland, featuring star striker Robert Lewandowski, also exited in the playoffs after a loss to Sweden. Costa Rica, having qualified for six of the last 36 years, ended their run due to a disappointing performance in the qualifiers, including a critical loss to Haiti. Each team's absence highlights the competitive challenges they faced in the qualifying process.

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