The footballers brought to the World Cup but never played

https://www.thecanary.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Neymar-on-bench-during-2026-World-Cup-720x540.png" width="720" />An early exit was not the only disappointment for footballers at the 2026 World Cup.

Whilst some stole the limelight with goals and trophies, a number of the game’s biggest stars experienced a tournament of a different kind: being included in their national teams’ squads, yet completely absent from the pitch.

Six weeks of waiting […]

By https://www.thecanary.co/author/alaa-shamali/">Alaa Shamali