8 huge countries that have never made it to the World Cup
With populations in the hundreds of millions and football fandom running deep, you'd think these nations would have made it to the biggest stage in football by now. But despite their size, history, and passion for the game, these eight countries have never qualified for a World Cup.
8. Thailand (71 million)
Thailand’s “War Elephants” have come close to qualification twice—reaching the final stage of Asian qualifiers in 2002 and 2018. They’ve been ranked as high as 43rd by FIFA and have featured in the Olympic football tournament back in the 1950s and '60s. But despite strong regional support and solid infrastructure, Thailand has yet to make a breakthrough on the global stage.
7. Vietnam (99 million)
Football has deep roots in Vietnam, dating back to the French colonial era. The country’s national team made their best World Cup qualifying run in 2022, reaching the third round of the Asian competition. Yet, they never looked like true contenders to secure a spot at the finals. While domestic enthusiasm is strong, global competition has proved too stiff so far.
6. Philippines (113 million)
Under American colonial rule, sports like basketball and boxing took precedence in the Philippines. While football has grown in popularity, the national team remains far from elite. Ranked 143rd by FIFA in 2025, the squad has never mounted a serious World Cup campaign. Despite some foreign-based talent, the gap to top-tier football remains wide.
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5. Ethiopia (125 million)
One of Africa’s oldest footballing nations, Ethiopia has a rich history in the sport. They reached the play-offs for the 2014 World Cup but narrowly lost to Nigeria. Their absence from any finals is surprising given the country's passion for football. With Africa now allocated more qualification spots, Ethiopia’s hopes for 2030 may be their best chance yet.
4. Bangladesh (169 million)
Bangladesh lives and breathes World Cup football, just not their own. The country erupts in support for Argentina or Brazil every four years, but the national team has never come close to qualifying. More invested in cricket historically, Bangladesh only started attempting qualification in the 1970s and remain far from the global football elite.
3. Pakistan (243 million)
Despite its massive population, Pakistan’s football team has long struggled to make an impact. Cricket reigns supreme, and football suffers from poor funding and development. Ranked near the bottom of the FIFA standings, Pakistan has never qualified and rarely made it beyond early qualifying rounds. A nation with huge potential remains in the shadows of the sport.
2. Indonesia (278 million)
Indonesia is the fourth-most populous country on the planet, but its national football team has never reached a World Cup. The Dutch East Indies did participate in 1938 under colonial rule, but modern Indonesia has yet to follow suit. A promising 2026 campaign was cut short by losses to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, even with several Eredivisie-based players in the squad.
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1. India (1.4 billion)
Topping the list is India, home to over 1.4 billion people and a booming football audience. While the sport is widely played and watched, especially through the Indian Super League, it sits firmly behind cricket in the national pecking order. India qualified for the 1950 World Cup but withdrew before the tournament began. Since then, they’ve never come close to returning to football’s biggest stage.
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