Nigeria Among Populous Nations Missing 2026 World Cup

Nigeria is listed among the eight most populous countries that will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which includes China and Indonesia. Despite Nigeria's previous appearances in the World Cup, it will not participate this time.

Other populous nations like India and Bangladesh have also not qualified, with India having technically qualified in 1950 but withdrew. The article cites British academic economist Stefan Szymanski, who states that a nation's population size does not guarantee football success; wealth, infrastructure, and historical experience play significant roles.

He notes that countries like Brazil and Argentina, despite having average incomes below the threshold of $15,000 per capita, have won the World Cup multiple times due to their long football history. Ethiopia's case is highlighted, showing persistent underinvestment in football, which has affected its national team's performance.

Kifl Seif, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Premier League, mentioned challenges such as stadium approval shortages impacting the men's national team.