The race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has thrown up some shocking twists, with several of football’s biggest names staring at the possibility of missing out on the tournament. Once considered untouchable, these traditional powerhouses are discovering that global football has become far more competitive, leaving no room for complacency.

Italy, four-time world champions, are in danger of missing a third consecutive World Cup after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Norway. Germany, another European heavyweight, continue to stumble with inconsistent form, highlighted by a shock loss to Slovakia. Belgium’s “Golden Generation” may also be running out of steam, with a decisive clash against Wales set to determine their future.

On the African continent, the story is no less dramatic. Ivory Coast must win all remaining fixtures to avoid slipping into a dreaded second-place playoff, while Cameroon are trailing Cape Verde by four points and have little margin for error. For Nigeria, the situation is even more dire — the Super Eagles are six points behind South Africa with just one game left, making qualification almost impossible without a miracle.

As the qualification campaigns reach their climax, one thing is clear: the days of automatic tickets for traditional giants are over. The World Cup stage is now a battleground where reputation alone counts for nothing.