25 Big Countries That Haven’t Qualified for the FIFA World Cup Even Once
Bangladesh
Despite being one of the most populous countries in the world, Bangladesh has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, and have primarily remained past the 100th spot on the FIFA Team Rankings. Having roped in former Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury in their side, Bangladesh will be hoping to make it big in the coming years.
Malaysia
The Malaysian national football team, referred to locally as 'Harimau Malaya' has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, with their best performance on the international stage being a bronze medal in the 1974 Asia Games. Malaysia did make it to the Olympics twice, in 1972 and 1980, and even recorded a historic victory against the USA in Munich.
Tanzania
The first African nation to occupy a spot on this list, Tanzania have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, and remain among the teams that fail to even make it past the early stages in the African Regional Qualifiers. They did feature in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) four times, and will participate in the 2025 edition later this year.
Palestine
One of the strongest football teams in West Asia, Palestine has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, with their biggest achievement being the AFC Challenge Cup victory in 2014. Palestine's 2018 WC qualification campaign was their best effort, as the team finished third in their group with four wins, two draws and just two losses.
Tajikistan
Tajiskistan has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, despite being a part of the qualification process since the 1998 edition. A lower-ranked side in Asian football, the 2023 edition of the AFC Asian Cup was in fact the first time that the country made it to the tournament finals, ever making it to the quarter-final, before losing to Jordan.
Vietnam
A strong regional performer, Vietnam is yet to make it to the FIFA World Cup finals, with its best-ever performance in the qualification rounds coming in the 2022 WC campaign. In the run-up to the 2022 WC, Vietnam had made it through to the Third Round (Final Round) of the AFC qualification, before being knocked out.
Pakistan
The fifth-most populous country in the world and a cricket-fanatic nation, Pakistan has never made beyond the initial stages of the World Cup qualification rounds, keeping the team away from the final tournament. Pakistan's first-ever World Cup qualifying win came in October 2023, when they defeated Cambodia.
Philippines
While the Philippines women's national football team did make history by qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, the men's national team has never achieved much beyond the initial Asian qualification rounds. Philippines have also played in the AFC Asian Cup just once, in 2019, and in the now-defuct AFC Challenge Cup, thrice.
Armenia
The first UEFA-affiliated nation to occupy a spot on this list, Armenia is among the few countries from Europe to have name made it to the FIFA World Cup finals. While coming close on several occasions, the Armenian national team has also not featured in the UEFA Euros, since having participated in the qualification process since 1998.
Thailand
The Thailand national football team has a notable history at the regional level, but has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. The 'War Elephants' and seven-time ASEAN Championship winners made it to the final round of the Asian World Cup qualification twice, in 2002 and 2018, but could not secure a spot in the final tournament.
Belarus
Another European nation to have never played in both the FIFA World Cup as well as the UEFA European Championship, the Belarus national football team typically finished in the lower half of their qualifying groups. Their most notable achievement in footballing history was a historic 1-0 victory over France in Paris, in the run-up to the 2012 Euros.
Guinea
A team that finished runners-up at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea achieved its highest-ever FIFA Ranking during the 2006-07 season, when it surprisingly made it to the 22nd place. Guinea however, has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, despite being a regular participant in the AFCON.
Uganda
Another African country to occupy a spot on this list, Uganda has also never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, with their most recent WC qualification campaign for the 2026 tournament ending just short of a play-offs spot. The Ugandan under-17 side did make it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar in 2025, in a historic feat.
Burkina Faso
The Burkina Fason national football team could have made it to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2014, had it not been for the away-goal rule. During the 2014 qualifying campaign, Burkina Faso reached the final round play-offs, but lost to Algeria on the away-goal rule, despite the aggregate score ending 3-3.
Oman
A notable performer at the FIFA U-17 and Beach Soccer World Cups, Oman has however, never qualified for the Men's Football World Cup. The team consistently participated in the Asian qualification for the tournament, but is yet to secure a spot in the finals, having reached close several times.
Montenegro
Montenegro became an independent nation and a member of the FIFA and UEFA in 2007, with their first official World Cup qualifying campaign being the 2010 edition. The team is also yet to qualify for the UEFA Euros, having made it to the play-offs ahead of the 2012 edition, before they subsequently lost to Czech Republic.
Kazakhstan
Another country to have never played at the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA Euros, Kazakhstan was initially a member of the AFC from 1994 to 2002, before shifting base to Europe. The team has not progressed past the group stages of the European qualification, and it generally finish in the lower half of its groups.
Gabon
Despite boasting a player of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's stature, the Gabonese national team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but still remain in contention for a spot at the 2026 edition. A regular in the AFCON, Gabon has qualified for the tournament nine times, making it to the quarter-finals twice, in 1996 and 2012.
North Macedonia
A country that famously ended four-time World Cup winners and reigning European champions Italy's dream of making it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, North Macedonia were then termed giant-killers for this achieving this unique feat. The team was close to qualifying for its first-ever WC, but lost the play-off final to Portugal.
Mali
Another country which reached close to making it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, Mali had made it to the final play-off round ahead of the previous WC, but disappointingly lost to Tunisia. Mali has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but remains a strong team in the Africa Cup of Nations, having finished runners-up in 1972.
Finland
The Finland men's national football team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, despite being a part of the qualification cycle 20 times. They did make it to the Euros in 2020, which was the country's first-ever qualification for a major men's tournament, and even managed to secure a win over Denmark in the group-stages.
Albania
A major Balkan footballing nation, Albania has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, despite having participated in the qualification rounds since 1966. Their best result in WC qualification was finishing third in their qualifying group during the 2018 FIFA WC, while the team did make it to the Euros twice, in 2016 and 2024.
Georgia
The Georgian national football team is best remembered for its historic 2-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the 2024 Euros group stages, a tournament where they made it to the round of 16. However, the team is yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals, but has bright future ahead with players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia emerging from the ranks.
Venezuela
Currently the highest-ranked team to have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, Venezeula is also the only nation from the CONMEBOL to find its name on this list. Venezuela's most successful World Cup qualifying campaign was ahead of the 2010 edition, when the team finished eighth with 22 points from 18 matches.
India
The most-populated country in the world, India has never played in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup. The team did make it to the final tournament in 1950, but withdrew before it even began, citing the lack of funds to travel to Brazil for the WC as a reason, while a popular story persists of the Indian team being denied to play barefoot.
