The Super Eagles of Nigeria have emerged as the second highest-ranked national team that will not be participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the latest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday.
Latest FIFA Rankings
In the newest rankings, Nigeria dropped one place to 44th in the world, but remain the fifth best team in Africa. However, with their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, they now sit as the second-highest ranked team among those missing the tournament.
The top-ranked team that will not be at the World Cup is Italy, who are ranked 9th in the world. Italy failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup after missing out on the 2022 edition as well.
Other Notable Absentees
Other high-ranked teams that will miss the 2026 World Cup include Sweden (27th), Ukraine (25th), and Wales (29th). The absence of these teams highlights the competitive nature of World Cup qualifying, especially in the European and African zones.
Nigeria's failure to qualify came after a disappointing campaign in the African qualifiers, where they finished behind group winners Benin Republic and Rwanda. The Super Eagles managed only two wins in their six qualifying matches, drawing two and losing two.
Reaction from Nigerian Football Authorities
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed disappointment over the team's failure to qualify but has pledged to rebuild and focus on future tournaments. The NFF is expected to review the team's performance and make necessary changes to ensure better results in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers and the 2030 World Cup campaign.
Fans have also voiced their frustration, calling for a complete overhaul of the team's technical staff and a renewed focus on youth development.
