The beauty of the World Cup is that there is still some exclusivity to it because everyone bar the hosts has to earn their place in the tournament through qualifying.
Of course, that can result in some pretty big casualties. It might only take a couple of bad games to destroy a qualifying campaign and leave even a top nation watching the World Cup from home.
Based on current FIFA rankings, there are the 10 best countries not going to Qatar this winter.
FIFA world ranking: 6th
Last World Cup appearance: 2014
Best World Cup finish: Winners (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
Despite being worthy winners of Euro 2020, Italy have bizarrely failed to qualify for two successive World Cups. Incredibly, they haven’t even reached the knockout stages of a World Cup since they last won it in 2006.
FIFA world ranking: 17th
Last World Cup appearance: 2018
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2014)
Colombia have only ever been to six World Cups in total, but have provided some of the competition’s most famous moments – both good and bad. They missed out this time after winning only five of 18 qualifiers.
FIFA world ranking: 23rd
Last World Cup appearance: 2018
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (1970)
Peru and their iconic red stripe made a long awaited return to the global stage in 2018, which was their first World Cup appearance in 36 years. But with failure to reach Qatar, it has proven to be a one-off.
FIFA world ranking: 25th
Last World Cup appearance: 2018
Best World Cup finish: Runners-up (1958)
Sweden are among the World Cup’s most successful teams never to have won it, reaching semi-finals in 1938, 1950 and 1994, as well as going all the way to the final in 1958 when they lost to 17-year-old Pele’s Brazil.
FIFA world ranking: 27th
Last World Cup appearance: 2006
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2006)
As an independent nation in the post-Soviet era, Ukraine’s only World Cup appearance remains 2006. They were one game away from a fairytale place in Qatar, but lost to Wales in a final play-off.
FIFA world ranking: 29th
Last World Cup appearance: 2014
Best World Cup finish: Third place (1962)
Chile’s golden generation that steered them to back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, with many of those star names either already retired or well into the thirties and past their best.
FIFA world ranking: 32nd
Last World Cup appearance: 2018
Best World Cup finish: Round of 16 (1994, 1998, 2014)
Along with Cameroon, Nigeria were among the first Sub-Saharan African countries to make an impact at the World Cup, The Super Eagles of the 1990s, who also claimed Olympic gold, are still cult heroes even now.
FIFA world ranking: 34th
Last World Cup appearance: 1998
Best World Cup finish: Third place (1954)
Austria have qualified for each of the last two European Championships but are now facing a sixth consecutive World Cup watching from home. In the 1930s and 1950s, they were one of the best in the world.
FIFA world ranking: 35th
Last World Cup appearance: 2006
Best World Cup finish: Group stage (2006)
Czechoslovakia were part of the World Cup furniture for decades, even reaching finals in 1934 and 1962. But since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and split with Slovakia, it is only one World Cup appearance for the Czechs.
FIFA world ranking: 36th
Last World Cup appearance: 1986
Best World Cup finish: Runners-up (1938, 1954)
Hungary recently just missed out on a place in the 2023 UEFA Nations League finals after an impressive campaign. They have been to the last two Euros, but no World Cup for 37 years and counting.
