(World Cup trophy and Trionda. Photo Credit: Punch News)
With 48 teams competing for the first time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the biggest in history.
Nevertheless, a number of well-known footballing nations including past winners and finalists were unable to get to the world championship.
According to FIFA on Wednesday, these nations will be looking to bounce back from previous failures and reclaim their spots on football’s grandest stage as the 2030 FIFA World Cup approaches.
Ten countries with great World Cup traditions are highlighted by FIFA as being keen to make a comeback in 2030.
Italy
Four-time champions Italy remain one of the most successful nations in World Cup history, though their recent decline has been unprecedented, having now missed three consecutive tournaments after featuring in 18 of the previous 20 editions.
After finishing behind Norway in qualification for 2026, the Azzurri still had a route to the tournament through the playoffs, but their hopes ended following a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 1934 and 1990 hosts have not featured at the World Cup since their group-stage exit in 2014, and the two-time European champions will now look to rebuild ahead of 2030.
Denmark have become regular World Cup participants since debuting in 1986, with six appearances and a quarter-final finish in 1998.
The Danes narrowly missed out on 2026 after losing their final qualifying group match to Scotland and later falling to Czechia on penalties in the playoffs.
Their early exit at the 2022 World Cup added to the disappointment, but with a talented squad still available, Denmark will hope manager Brian Riemer can guide them back to the global stage.
Poland have featured at nine World Cups and secured third-place finishes in 1974 and 1982.
They returned to the knockout stage in 2022 for the first time since 1986 but failed to build on it, missing qualification for 2026 after losing 3-2 to Sweden in the playoff final.
With veteran striker Robert Lewandowski nearing the end of his career, the country now faces a rebuilding phase, though its emerging generation offers hope for a strong comeback.
Hungary
Once a dominant force in world football, Hungary have appeared at nine World Cups and reached two finals, though their last appearance came in 1986, making them the team on this list with the longest absence from the tournament.
The Hungarians came close to reaching the 2026 playoffs but suffered a dramatic final-day defeat to the Republic of Ireland.
Despite their World Cup struggles, encouraging performances at recent European Championships have kept hopes alive for a return to the game’s biggest stage.
Romania’s greatest World Cup moment came in 1994, when a golden generation featuring Gheorghe Hagi and Gheorghe Popescu reached the quarter-finals.
Since their last appearance in 1998, the Tricolorii have struggled to return, reaching the 2026 playoffs through the UEFA Nations League route before losing 1-0 to Türkiye in the semi-finals.
With Hagi back for a second spell as coach, Romania will hope to build a squad capable of finally ending their long wait.
Nigeria have reached the knockout stage in three of their six World Cup appearances, including memorable campaigns in 1994, 1998 and 2014.
The Super Eagles missed the last two editions after finishing behind South Africa in their 2026 African qualifying group, reaching the playoff stage before losing to DR Congo on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Despite the setback, Nigeria’s deep pool of football talent remains a major advantage, with a stable structure and consistent performances seen as key to a return in 2030.
Cameroon hold the African record for the most World Cup appearances, having featured at eight tournaments, and made history in 1990 as the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals.
Their 2026 qualification campaign, however, ended in disappointment after finishing behind Cape Verde and losing to DR Congo in the playoffs.
With a rich football tradition and abundant talent, Cameroon will aim to regain the consistency that once made them one of Africa’s strongest teams.
Chile have participated in nine World Cups and finished third in the 1962 tournament held on home soil.
The country enjoyed a golden era between 2010 and 2014, reaching the knockout stages in consecutive editions, but La Roja have since missed three straight tournaments and endured a difficult qualifying campaign for 2026.
Chile will now look to a new generation of players to revive their fortunes before 2030.
Peru have reached the World Cup quarter-finals twice, in 1970 and 1978, and ended a 36-year absence by qualifying for the 2018 tournament.
Their recent campaigns, however, have been disappointing, finishing ninth in the 2026 qualifiers with only two wins and six goals scored in 18 matches.
A major rebuilding effort will be needed as the country looks to develop a new attacking force while maintaining the defensive organisation that once brought success.
Costa Rica have been one of CONCACAF’s most consistent World Cup teams, appearing in five of the last seven tournaments, with their greatest achievement coming in 2014 when they reached the quarter-finals after topping a group containing Uruguay, Italy and England.
Their hopes of reaching 2026, however, ended after a disappointing qualifying campaign, with a draw against Honduras denying them even a playoff opportunity.
The three-time regional champions will now focus on developing a new generation capable of restoring their status as one of Central America’s leading football nations.
