The full 48-team line-up for this summer’s FIFA World Cup was officially confirmed on Tuesday as the final six nations at the finals through play-off ties.

DR Congo and Iraq were the last two teams to book their place in the 2026 edition of the tournament, set to be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The final four European spots were also confirmed on Tuesday, with Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina qualifying at the expense of Kosovo, Poland, Denmark and Italy.

Italy were the headline makers after the four-time winners missed out on a third successive World Cup, despite possessing some star names.

While numerous Premier League stars will be on show at the finals, several suffered heartbreak during the qualifying campaign.

Daily Mail Sport has put together an XI of Premier League stars who will be forced to watch on this summer. 

Italy stunningly missed out on a third successive World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia

Gianluigi Donnarumma – Italy

The Man City goalkeeper admitted he had been reduced to tears after Italy failed to reach a third successive World Cup.

Donnarumma captained Italy as they fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties on Tuesday night, having battled for most of the match with 10 men.

He was unable to save any of the Bosnian penalties in a 4-1 shoot-out defeat, with another absence from the finals leaving the four-time winners shellshocked.

‘Last night, after the match, I cried,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I cried because of the disappointment of not being able to bring Italy where it deserves to be.

‘I cried because of the enormous sadness I’m feeling, along with the entire Azzurri team, of which I’m proud to be captain, and I know, right now, you, fans of our national team, are feeling too.

‘Words are of little use now, it’s true. But I feel one thing strongly inside, and I want to share it with you: after such a huge disappointment, we must find the courage to turn the page, once again. And to do so requires a lot of strength, passion, and conviction.

‘Always believe; this is the driving force behind moving forward. Because life knows how to reward those who give their all, without holding back. And this is where we must start again. Together. Once again. To bring Italy back where it deserves to be.’

Donnarumma made his Italy debut at 16, but will now not play in a World Cup until he is at least 31.

Gianluigi Donnarumma admitted he had cried after Italy missed out on another World Cup

Matty Cash (Poland)

While Italy’s failure to qualify may have taken most of the headlines on Tuesday, Matty Cash was on the wrong end of another thrilling play-off tie.

The Aston Villa full back played the full match as Poland were beaten 3-2 by Sweden.

Viktor Gyokeres scored a decisive 88th minute winner to dash Polish hopes and remarkably qualify Sweden via the back door.

Sweden, now managed by Graham Potter, had failed to win a single qualifying match but their Nations League performance earned them a spot in the play-offs. It was a second chance they seized with both hands.

Cash misses out on a second World Cup having featured at Qatar 2022. Poland’s failure to qualify looks to have ended the international career of their legendary forward Robert Lewandowski.

Matty Cash saw Poland’s hopes dashed after suffering a dramatic play-off defeat to Sweden

Nathan Collins – Republic of Ireland

The Brentford defender looked to have played a key role in helping the Republic of Ireland on their way to a first World Cup since 2002.

Collins was fouled for the penalty which saw Troy Parrott open the scoring against the Czech Republic last week.

He also rattled the crossbar as Ireland looked to put the tie beyond their Czech hosts in Prague.

Despite having led 2-0 on the night, it was ultimately heartbreak as the Czech Republic fought back to level the match and eventually win on penalties.

Republic of Ireland were beaten on penalties by the Czech Republic in a play-off semi-final

Riccardo Calafiori – Italy

Calafiori was on the pitch throughout Italy’s play-off against Bosnia and has not escaped criticism from their press following the defeat.

Corriere della Sera declared that ‘elegance isn’t enough’ when analysing Calafiori’s performance and stated that Italy ‘demands more’.

Corriere dello Sport went further by suggesting that the Arsenal defender had been ‘outplayed’ during the defeat.

Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori’s was among the Italian players to come under fire after their loss to Bosnia

Milos Kerkez – Hungary

Hungary’s World Cup fate has been known for some time, after dramatically missing out on the play-offs back in November.

Kerkez was part of the Hungary side that appeared primed to finish as group runners-up behind Portugal and remain in the hunt for a World Cup berth.

Their dreams were dashed in stunning fashion against the Republic of Ireland when Troy Parrott completed his stunning hat-trick in the last minute in Budapest to snatch second away from Hungary.

Milos Kerkez, right, saw Hungary’s World Cup dream end back in November in the group stage

Bryan Mbeumo – Cameroon

Mbeumo scored four times for Cameroon in their qualifying group, but it was not enough as the Indomitable Lions finished behind Cape Verde – who will make their World Cup debut this summer.

There was a second chance for Cameroon having finished as one of the four best second-placed teams.

They were undone, however, last November as a stoppage time Chancel Mbemba goal earned DR Congo a 1-0 win in a play-off semi-final in Rabat.

Cameroon, Africa’s record representatives at the World Cup with eight appearances, will be left ruing a major opportunity missed.

DR Congo would ultimately go on to qualify by beating Nigeria on penalties, before an extra-time 1-0 win over Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off on Tuesday.

Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon were stunned by DR Congo in a play-off tie back in November

Sandro Tonali – Italy

The Newcastle midfielder did all he could to try to ensure Italy ended their World Cup curse and drag them to the finals.

Tonali scored and assisted in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in their play-off semi-final last week.

The 25-year-old was also the only Italian player to find the net in the penalty shoot-out against Bosnia.

Tonali could only watch on as Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their respective penalties, as the Azzurri endured another heartbreak.

The Newcastle midfielder will be forced to watch on again this summer as the World Cup takes place without Italy.

Tonali’s club future will now be the main issue he is involved in this summer, with the Italian wanted by Man United, amongst others.

Sandro Tonali’s club future looks likely to be his summer focus after Italy’s failure

Dominik Szoboszlai – Hungary

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s shining light this season but will be one of the highest profile absentees from the World Cup.

The Hungary captain will instead have the summer off after their stunning defeat to the Republic of Ireland back in November.

Still only 25, Szoboszlai will have further chances to end Hungary’s long wait to return to the World Cup.

The 1938 and 1954 runners-up have not been to a World Cup since way back at Mexico 1986.

Liverpool duo Szoboszlai and Kerkez will likely be key if they are to end that exile in 2030.

Dominik Szoboszlai will be among the biggest name stars to miss this summer’s finals

Harry Wilson – Wales

Fulham’s star man this season was carrying Welsh hopes in their play-off semi-final with Bosnia in Cardiff last week.

Wilson scored from the spot to give Craig Bellamy’s side the perfect start, after Ermedin Demirovic had missed with Bosnia’s first effort.

Missed penalties from Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams saw Welsh hopes ultimately end.

Wilson’s club future will be the focus instead this summer, with the 29-year-old’s contract expiring after the best season of his career.

Harry Wilson scored from the spot but Wales were beaten by Bosnia in a semi-final last week

Patrick Dorgu – Denmark

The Man United star was helpless as Denmark’s World Cup fate was decided in his absence as he continues to recover from an injury.

Dorgu had shown that he potentially could have helped his nation’s World Cup bid having been in sparkling form prior to suffering his hamstring injury against Arsenal back in January.

Denmark equalised twice against the Czech Republic on Tuesday night as their play-off tie went the distance.

The Czech Republic ultimately triumphed 3-1 on penalties to book their ticket to the finals.

Dorgu’s former Man United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund was among those to miss from the spot for Denmark, with the forward firing his penalty against the crossbar. 

Patrick Dorgu was absent for Denmark with injury when their World Cup hopes were ended

Benjamin Sesko – Slovenia

Sesko will be another Man United player with the summer off after Slovenia failed to pull up any trees in qualifying.

Slovenia picked up four points in their qualifying group, drawing four times and losing twice.

They will be among the nations glancing envious eyes at Sweden. Slovenia finished above them in their group, but Sweden qualified for the World Cup via the Nations League pathway through the play-offs.

Sesko failed to score in his four appearances in qualifying as Slovenia finished behind Switzerland and Kosovo. He was absent from their final two matches through injury.

At 22, Sesko will have plenty more chances at appearing at a World Cup and the forward will likely have to carry much of the burden to help Slovenia make the finals in the future.